EFF man sent e-mail to Rupert -- despite denials

JULIUS Malema’s Economic Freedom Fighters did request a fundraising meeting with billionaire businessman Johann Rupert, despite strong denials from the party this week.

The Sunday Times can confirm that a Gauteng-based businessman who is also a member of the EFF, Jabulani Mahlangu, sent an e-mail to Rupert’s office asking for a meeting at the end of January.

The newspaper has a copy of the e-mailed letter.

In the letter, Mahlangu introduced himself as an executive director at JMT Resources (Pty) Ltd and JT Forex and Commodities (Pty) Ltd and as an EFF member.

“In my representative capacity of EFF, I would like to request a meeting with yourself to clarify our often misrepresented policies in the public media and discuss common areas of mutual cooperation with the Afrikaner business community.”

It is understood that Rupert’s office told Mahlangu that the businessman did not fund political parties and turned down his request for a meeting.

Last week, Malema slated Rupert, whom he accused of controlling both the ANC and the Democratic Alliance, during an election rally in Cape Town. But when it was pointed out that the EFF had, in fact, sought a meeting with Rupert to raise funds, EFF leaders went ballistic.

“EFF unequivocally disputes the lies that it requested to meet with the white monopoly capitalist Johann Rupert in February.

“This is an act of malicious collaboration between Rupert and the Sunday Times in an attempt to delegitimise the criticism of his wish to silence the agenda of nationalisation in the EFF.”

But when contacted this week, Mahlangu confirmed the letter and said he had sent a request for the meeting with Rupert with the blessing of EFF leaders. “The matter was handled by the national executive,” he said.

When called for comment, EFF spokesman Mbuyiseni Ndlozi said Mahlangu’s name sounded familiar. When he was probed further about Mahlangu’s e-mail to Rupert, Ndlozi’s line went dead.

He later denied knowing Mahlangu. “No such a decision was taken [to request a meeting with Rupert]. I sit in all the meetings and also have access to the meetings I don’t attend,” said Ndlozi.

Ndlozi said it was possible Mahlangu had spoken to some people in the EFF, but his actions had not been sanctioned by Malema and other top leaders.

Malema launched a scathing attack on Rupert last week and blamed him for all his troubles. Malema said Rupert was behind his dismissal from the ANC and his troubles with the South African Revenue Service.