Home » Malema Files Counter Corruption Complaint Against Gordhan

Malema Files Counter Corruption Complaint Against Gordhan

JOHANNESBURG – Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Leader Julius Malema has retaliated to Pravin Gordhan’s defamation complaint – which was filed against Malema and his Deputy Floyd Shivambu yesterday – by filing his own counter criminal complaint against the Public Enterprises Minister. In it, Malema accuses Gordhan of money laundering, corruption, racketeering and fraud. Gordhan denies any […]

By SAPeople
27-11-18 16:08
in Eish!

JOHANNESBURG – Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Leader Julius Malema has retaliated to Pravin Gordhan’s defamation complaint – which was filed against Malema and his Deputy Floyd Shivambu yesterday – by filing his own counter criminal complaint against the Public Enterprises Minister.

Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party leaders Floyd Shivambu (L) and Julius Malema (R) leave the parliament in Cape Town, South Africa February 11, 2016. REUTERS/Mike Hutchings/File Photo

In it, Malema accuses Gordhan of money laundering, corruption, racketeering and fraud.

Gordhan denies any wrongdoing by him or his daughter Anisha who Malema accuses of having more than 10 companies doing business with the government, thanks to her father’s position in government.

Yesterday Gordhan filed a defamation complaint saying “enough is enough”.

Gordhan said: “I have not responded until now… but extending these attacks to my family and threatening harmony amongst the people of South Africa was a step too far…”

Malema said today that the EFF has given police evidence on the alleged criminal activities, including details of a bank account in Canada where Gordhan allegedly asked individuals to deposit money.

“I said to the police, I have got a list of people who were told to put the money into the account,” Malema told EFF supporters outside a Pretoria police station.

“When we attack Pravin, we are launching an attack against corruption.”

Gordhan, who earned great respect from international investors during his tenure as finance minister when he stood up to former president Jacob Zuma, has denied having a bank account in Canada.

The case between Gordhan and Malema is likely to sharpen friction between the parties months before a national election, where the smaller EFF is trying to use an anti-corruption platform to challenge key figures in the ruling African National Congress party.

“It is their democratic right to pursue whatever path they wish to pursue. That it is malicious and unsubstantial there is no doubt, but let’s see how it plays itself out,” Gordhan told reporters in Cape Town when asked about EFF’s complaint.

(Reporting by Olivia Kumwenda-Mtambo in Johannesburg, Wendell Roelf in Cape Town and Jenni Baxter/SAPeople; Editing by James Macharia, Richard Balmforth/Reuters and Jenni Baxter/SAPeople)