In a bombshell revelation at the EFF presser, Julius Malema boldly accused Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi and President Cyril Ramaphosa of using the states apparatus to punish donors who bought seats at the EFF Gala.
“A meeting took place on the 31st of July after the EFF celebration between CR and the SARS Commissioner Edward Kieswetter. Cyril has tasked the SARS Commissioner to conduct and investigation on all the guests that attended the EFF gala dinner,” Malema charged, adding that his sources are “very reliable” and never let him down”.
On Tuesday, reports surfaced of an investigation into the attendance of Major General Feroz Khan, the second in command of the Crime Intelligence division, at the Thursday Gala Dinner at Emperors Palace, east of Johannesburg.
According to the office of national police commissioner General Fannie Masemola, which revealed the news, police officials are prohibited from publicly endorsing political activities or movements. However, the policy do not bar police employees from attending meetings of political parties, provided they don’t wear their uniform while doing so.
Responding to the earlier revelation by News24 that Khan was attending the event, EFF head of international relations Godrich Gardee tweeted that the publication had “blown” Khan’s cover.
He wrote: “He is gathering intelligence in funerals and weddings and wherever many people gather. He is doing his job undercover. You are exposing the work of state security. You blew his cover and guilty of transgressing the intelligence act… shame on you.”
However, SARS head Edward Kieswetter has come out to deny allegations that Ramaphosa and Lesufi met to discuss investigating attendees of the EFF gala dinner.
Meanwhile, Malema has also relayed a series of text messages from a WhatsApp group allegedly administrated by Lesufi.
“Good evening leadership, I was going through the guest list and businesses that contributed to the 10th EFF birthday, I’m shocked that we are taking things lightly, notwithstanding the rights of individuals and businesses to association.”
He reads further: “To have this formation getting opportunities from our institution and then donating handsomely to other parties without recognising a party that gave them an opportunity can’t be described as freedom of choice, but we are being treated as fools … these must stop. We have to take ourselves serious from now on. This is a battle and the battle lines are now drawn.”
This story continues to develop.