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Johannesburg - The Hawks would not confirm a news report on Friday that a warrant had been issued for the arrest of expelled ANC Youth League leader Julius Malema.
"The Hawks don't issue warrants, so we don't comment on that," said spokesperson McIntosh Polela.
Asked if the unit was planning to arrest Malema, he said: "Even if we were planning to arrest him, we won't tell you."
Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa's spokesperson, Zweli Mnisi, referred queries to provincial police.
Gauteng police spokesperson, Brigadier Neville Malila, said he knew nothing about an arrest warrant for Malema.
The National Prosecuting Authority said the SA Police Service had applied for a warrant.
"I'm not aware of that. SAPS applied for that warrant, so they are in a better place to comment on that," said spokesperson Vuyisile Calaza.
"At this stage, we know nothing about the warrant or his arrest. No docket has been brought to us."
Justice department spokesperson Mthunzi Mhaga could not immediately be reached for comment.
City Press reported that the warrant was issued on Friday morning.
Malema was due to appear in a Pretoria or Polokwane court next week on charges of money laundering, corruption and fraud, it said.
The matter related to his Ratanang Family Trust and its share holding in On-Point Engineering, a company that had allegedly made millions from Limpopo government tenders.
The publication said it was unclear whether Malema would be jailed before appearing in court.
Earlier this week, Malema told reporters in Johannesburg that he knew an "illegal warrant" would be issued for his arrest.
"If we are illegally arrested tomorrow, we would have been arrested by [president] Jacob Zuma," Malema said at the time.
He said he was willing and ready to go to jail, and was not intimidated.
"I have nothing to hide... I only have my convictions. Nothing will stop me from fighting for economic freedom, not even my death... We are unshaken."
Malema said he had it "on good authority" that there were instructions "to get rid of some us..."
At the time, presidential spokesperson Mac Maharaj said: "The presidency is aware that this person is prone to making wildly unsubstantiated and unwarranted claims and statements, and we do not wish to dignify them."
Suspended ANCYL spokesperson Floyd Shivambu could not immediately be reached for comment on Friday.
