Govt did not pay for Malema's trip: Mbalula

Friday, August 3, 2012

Johannesburg - Sport and Recreation Minister Fikile Mbalula has refuted allegations that his department had picked up the tab for expelled African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) President Julius Malema to stay in London.

"Once and for all ... I did not pay for Julius [Malema]," said the minister, addressing media in Johannesburg on Friday.

Mbalula said he could not instruct his Director-General to pay for a private citizen.

"I went there for my own programme of government. My department has never paid for any private citizen in the form of Julius or anybody through our trip in London," he said.

He said he was not Malema's spokesperson and that questions on how he was able to get to London should be directed to him.

"He speaks for himself, you must ask him how he got there and don't [involve] me with things that I don't know. I didn't address any meeting where Julius was present, I stuck to my government programme," he said.

Mbalula further described the media reports claiming that he had paid for Malema's trip as "mischievous".

He said he was not corrupt and would never misuse government resources. "The point is that it is basically undermining the oath I took."

The minister, whose department received an unqualified report from the Auditor General, challenged those who claimed to have evidence of him footing Malema's bill in London.

"I want to say go to the Public Protector if you have the proof that I've paid for Julius ... we have a Public Protector who is very enthusiastic to investigate people who are doing wrong. Please supply that information to the Public Protector," he said.