JOHANNESBURG — Julius Malema, the expelled leader of the ruling ANC’s Youth League in South Africa, is homeless, penniless and a pedestrian after all his cars, properties and valuables were taken this week to repay his tax debt.
The Sunday Independent
It is believed Malema could lose even the cabbages he is currently farming in Limpopo — but it is doubtful this will help cover the massive R16 million he owes the South African Revenue Service (Sars). Last week Sars applied to the Pretoria High Court to have Malema sequestrated — in an apparent move to find out whether the former youth leader has any hidden assets.
Contrary to media reports that the revenue service has only applied to attach his properties, Sars secured a court order to attach Malema’s assets in December, which it executed last week. Sars has confirmed that sheriffs pounced on his Polokwane and Sandton homes.
Spokesman Adrian Lackay confirmed that they had instructed the sheriffs to take all Malema’s movable and immovable assets, “and this happened in the past two weeks”.
“I can confirm that the Gauteng North High Court in December last year granted Sars an order to attach various assets, which include movable and immovable properties.
“The attachment has happened. He did not oppose that,” Lackay said.
Sandton South sheriff Theo Siebert would not comment on whether or not his office had collected any of Malema’s valuables.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
Malema declined to comment when he was called. “I am not going to talk about these things. Speak to my lawyer,” he said. His lawyer, Nicqui Galaktiou, would not comment on the attachment of his client’s assets.
But The Sunday Independent understands that Malema’s cars — including a Mercedes Benz Viano — were taken away to be auctioned. Other creditors, such as banks, will also have to be paid.
Malema was forced to let go of his two bodyguards because he could no longer afford them. Last week, a woman from Malema’s grandmother’s neighbourhood of Seshego, north-west of Polokwane, said the former youth leader stayed with relatives.
“He comes around here often, but his cousin said he does not sleep at the grandmother’s house,” said the woman, who did not want to be named.
“But I don’t think anybody would stop him from coming back to his grandmother’s house.” This could not be verified independently.
Malema has not lived in his R3,6 million Sandton home — which has been attached — for at least a year after he demolished the house so that he could rebuild it.
