Malema lying, says youth league treasurer

ANC Youth League treasurer Reggie Nkabinde, owner of Mabala Noise Entertainment, has denied money laundering allegations levelled against him by the EFF.

Nkabinde has accused its leader, Julius Malema, of lying to the nation. He said he was a businessman who self-financed the company.

“Unlike Julius, I have never hidden the fact that I am a businessman. I was an owner of Mabala Noise before I was elected treasurer.

“It has always been there, and there is no channelling of money from the government to Mabala Noise,” Nkabinde said at a media briefing in Johannesburg yesterday.

The company recently signed up and offered lucrative contracts to popular rappers Ricky Rick, Nasty C, Gigi LaMayne and TV and radio presenter Khanyi Mbau, among others.

Malema accused Mabala Noise on Thursday of money laundering and claimed the company received contracts from the Department of Water and Sanitation and used the money to fund artists, who would then endorse the ANC during election campaigns.

Malema said the newly signed artists were paid at least R5 million each by Mabala Noise.

He said Nkabinde was in “a special relationship” with Water and Sanitation Minister Nomvula Mokonyane.

At the briefing, Nkabinde said his relationship with Mokonyane was that of a “mother and son”.

“Nomvula and Serge Mokonyane (her husband) are my parents ... that is something I have never hidden and they’re my political mentors,” said Nkabinde.

“I am who I am because of the role they played in my life. I won’t distance myself from my relationship with them just because today I own Mabala Noise and I am treasurer of league.”

Nkabinde said musicians preferred to work with Mabala Noise because other record companies exploited artists.

“If you check artists we signed, they were independent and doing well on their own. They told us clearly they chose Mabala Noise because it is an independent African company. Our aim is to help them grow,” he said.

Malema challenged Nkabinde to take him to court if his allegations were false.

Nkadinde said he would decide whether to take Malema to court after consulting his legal team. the youth