Vanderbijlpark – Forty-year-old businessman Edward Malema, who was arrested by the Gauteng Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) in connection with a R16 million fleet tender, has appeared in the Vanderbijlpark Magistrates ‘ Court.
Malema, the director of Mabula Forestry and Construction, faces corruption, fraud, and theft charges.
It is alleged that between July 2015 and July 2023, the Emfuleni Local Municipality Fleet Manager, 45-year-old Lerato Selaelo Mpholo, who is Accused 1 in the matter, received payments of R50 000 and other undisclosed amounts from Malema.
The payments were allegedly an inducement to award Emfuleni Local Municipality fleet procurement contracts to Malema and his company.
The municipality allegedly ordered and paid R16 million to Malema for the procurement of 18 vehicles, including UD trucks and bakkies.
However, the vehicles were allegedly never delivered to the municipality.
Seven of the vehicles have since been recovered from other entities; the rest are still outstanding.
Malema was arrested on Thursday, 3 September 2026, by the PKTT at a mall in Pretoria.
Malema made his first court appearance today, Monday, 7 September 2026.
He was remanded in custody after the court adjourned the matter to 14 September 2026.
