By Mapaballo Borotho
- Julius Malema has defended his relationships with businessman Ze Nxumalo and late taxi boss Mswazi Msibi following allegations raised at the Madlanga Commission.
- He denied claims linking him to organised crime networks and tender corruption in Tshwane.
- Malema maintains that his interactions with the individuals were related to taxi industry matters and not wrongdoing.
The leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), Julius Malema, has defended his relationship with controversial businessman Ze Nxumalo and notorious taxi boss Jonathan Mswazi Msibi.
Earlier this year, testimony at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry implicated Malema in alleged associations with Nxumalo and the late Msibi, both of whom have been linked to an alleged organised crime network known as the “Big 5” cartel in Gauteng.
Furthermore, Patriotic Alliance deputy leader Kenny Kunene claimed Malema frequently visited Mswazi’s farm in Dinokeng late at night, sometimes travelling there at midnight or 2am when called.
He alleged that Malema would leave other engagements to visit the property and was part of Mswazi’s inner circle.
In a briefing at the EFF headquarters on Thursday, 09 April 2026, Malema confirmed he knew Nxumalo through the businessman’s father, who was involved with the IFP.
He said Nxumalo is the one who introduced him to Msibi.
He clarified that his relationship with both Msibi and Nxumalo was due to their negotiations in the taxi industry and his own requests regarding transport-related issues.
He was also implicated by police officer Fannie Nkosi in allegations of tender fraud, which Malema vehemently denied.
During his testimony last month, Nkosi claimed members of ActionSA and the EFF had manipulated security tenders for the City of Tshwane.
The allegations relate to a 2024 tender for private security assistance for the Tshwane Metro Police Department.
Nkosi claimed he received a list of companies for the contract from the Tshwane Deputy Metro Police Chief at the time.
He further alleged that the official said the companies were recommended by the EFF leader.
“There’s no one in the EFF who’s a player in all this nonsense,” Malema said.
“So the EFF or its CIC is not implicated in Madlanga. No one brought any list to me to verify, because I would have asked where they got the list from,” he added.
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