DA to report Malema to Ethics Committee, which he also happens to sit on

In a statement on Tuesday, DA chief whip John Steenhuisen said they would be reporting EFF leader and MP Julius Malema to parliament’s ethics committee.

The matter relates to reports that Malema benefited from the looting of VBS Mutual Bank funds through a VBS beneficiary company, Mahuna Investments.

Steenhuisen said that if it was true that Malema had made some money out of VBS, he had never declared it, as per the rules of parliament for MPs.

“The DA has consulted the declaration of members’ interests for 2017 as well as 2018. Mr Malema does not declare Mahuna Investments in any form for either of these years – not under Shares & Financial Interests, nor under Gifts & Hospitalities, nor even under Sponsorships or Benefits.”

Steenhuisen pointed out that members of parliament took an oath of office swearing to uphold the constitution and all other laws of the republic when they took up their seats.

“If the allegations that are being reported on turn out to be true, then Mr Malema would have broken the law not once but many times over, and would have acted against the very spirit of our constitution, which strives to ensure dignity and equality for all the people of South Africa.

“The money that Mr Malema is reported to have splurged on luxuries such as hotels, horse races, and designer clothing represent the life savings of thousands of South Africans who are otherwise extremely vulnerable and have very little means to support themselves in their day-to-day lives, let alone in their old age or retirement.

“The allegations, if true, would show a callous disregard on Mr Malema’s side for the interests of the people that elected him to represent them, and expose him as a hypocrite of the highest order. Furthermore, this would mean that he had lied to parliament by failing to take it into his confidence as far as his alleged connections with Mahuna Investments are concerned, and that he had broken the Code of Conduct for Members.”

The DA had already laid charges against Malema and the rest of the EFF leadership on 22 November last year for their alleged involvement in the looting of money deposited with VBS Bank.

“The DA cannot, however, close its eyes to Mr Malema’s complete disregard for the institution of Parliament. We will therefore now also be reporting Mr Malema to Parliament’s committee on Ethics and Members’ Interests, in order for this committee to investigate his non-compliance with the code of conduct of Parliament, and the rules and regulations regarding disclosure of interests.”

Perhaps somewhat ironically, Malema sits on the ethics committee, which was already asked last year to investigate reports implicating his deputy, Floyd Shivambu, in VBS looting through links to his brother Brian.

Malema had earlier used his Twitter account to say he is not overly concerned about new reports accusing him of having spent money misappropriated from the liquidated bank.

Daily Maverick reported how money from VBS bank allegedly financed the EFF leader’s lifestyle, with Malema alleged to have spent R900,000 on luxury clothing brands, hotels, and party venues, among other things.

Responding to academic Nomboniso Gasa, who said that Malema should sue Van Wyk if she was lying, or that he should be charged if she was telling the truth, Malema told her she was “welcome to open a case”.

“No one will stop you,” he added.

Malema answered DA MP Ghaleb Cachalia, who called on him to “answer these documented allegations and accusations,” with even less concern.

“A mere apology won’t do. Let’s hope a prosecution awaits,” Cachalia tweeted, to which the EFF leader responded with only four smiley emojis and one of a person shrugging.

In the report, titled VBS Theft, Money Laundering & Life’s Little Luxuries: Julius Malema’s time of spending dangerously, banking statements were used to show that Malema allegedly used a bank card from company Mahuna Investments, which is owned by his cousin Matsobane Phaleng and was reportedly used as “his personal slush fund and alter ego”, to spend the R900,000 in July last year.

This was allegedly at places including Gucci and Le Coq Sportif in Sandton City, at the Durban July, at the Hampshire Hotel in Ballito, at Polokwane party venue Mekete Lodge (where over R400,000 was allegedly spent) and at Nando’s.

READ MORE: Malema spits fire at Scorpio’s VBS Bank loot article

VBS funds paid to Mahuna Investments also reportedly helped pay for Malema’s eldest son’s school fees, his house and pool in Sandown, Malema’s personal political campaigns and the EFF’s birthday celebrations.

Both Malema and EFF spokesperson Mbuyiseni Ndlozi did not respond to detailed questions from The Daily Maverick.

Ndlozi also had not responded to requests for comment from The Citizen at the time of publication.

(Compiled by Charles Cilliers. Background reporting, Daniel Friedman)

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