It also says a lot about South Africa. No matter how many apparent acts of misconduct and cases of tender mismanagement there might be hiding in the Malema closet, it’s the South African Revenue Service (SARS), and the rule of law that eventually have caught up with SA’s flashy youngster, not his political masters.
Malema is reportedly homeless, penniless and back on his bicycle after all his cars, properties and valuables were taken to repay his tax debt. SARS says he owes them around R16million. SARS secured a court order in the Pretoria High Court (yes, the court is still called Pretoria, although the rest of the place is now called Tshwane) to attach Malema’s assets. Sheriffs took all his movable and immicable assets after raids at his Polokwane and Sandton properties.
What is most interesting about the latest action is that the old blabber-mount had nothing to say. Normally he suffers of verbal diarrhoea, but this time round Malema declined to comment. He told Independent Newspapers: “I am not going to talk about these things. Speak to my lawyer.” His lawyer, Nicqui Galaktiou, had even less to say.
It is also reported sheriffs took possession of a Mercedes Benz Viano, while another Mercedes Benz was sold to a businessman ally last year. A Range Rover SUV – which belonged to a Limpopo businessman – has been returned to the owner. Household contents, including a treadmill, were taken from the Limpopo house.
This did not stop Malema from partying. Over the weekend he was seen at an exclusive house party in Sandton, where popular Nigerian artist D’Banj performed. Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula and ANC leader Tony Yengeni were also at the party. Malama must have felt right at home. Yengeni is a convicted fraudster.
Meanwhile the DA has called for the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to investigate irregular housing tenders awarded to expelled ANC Youth League president leader Julius Malema’s allies.
“It must be probed why tenders worth R900 million, as reported by the Star, were awarded against the recommendations of the bid committee by the Limpopo human settlements department,” Limpopo spokeswoman Desiree van der Walt said in a statement over the weekend.
