Johannesburg - An engineering company, in which former ANC Youth League president Julius Malema holds shares through his family trust, cannot apply for state tenders for five years, the Sunday Times reports.
On-Point Engineering and its chief executive Lesiba Gwangwa, reportedly Malema's close friend, have been blacklisted on a Treasury database.
Gwangwa, 33, is embroiled in a court case involving a tender worth R52m which was allegedly unlawfully awarded to the company in 2009. The contract was for On-Point to oversee work by service providers contracted to the Limpopo roads and transport department.
Public Protector Thuli Madonsela said in October last year she found the department did not follow proper guidelines in awarding the tender, and that On-Point and Malema improperly benefited from the contract.
Some of the money paid to On-Point was transferred to Malema's Ratanang Family Trust.
Treasury spokesperson Jabulani Sikhakhane said government departments and state institutions had to consult the database of blacklisted people and organisations before tenders could be awarded.