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By Xolani Mbanjwa
The South African Police Service considers Julius Malema a VIP whose life is in danger. Now it will cost taxpayers anything up to R300 000 a month to ensure no harm comes to him.
Opposition parties have blasted "the wastage" on "this little man", calling the ANC Youth League president a coward as reports emerge of him using blue lights in his private car to avoid roadblocks.
But Police Ministry spokes-man Zweli Mnisi said Malema had received death threats.
"(Malema) wrote a letter to the SAPS advising of his request to receive such protection as he believed his life was in danger," he said.
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"Crime Intelligence, upon receiving this request, conducted an investigation which then revealed that indeed there were threats to his life."
Mnisi said Malema was then given the choice of using either the police's VIP Protection Services - the unit that guards ministers and other dignitaries - or private bodyguards.
The SAPS would foot the bill for both options.
Mnisi was unable to reveal the cost of Malema's protection, but private security experts said guarding high-profile figures could cost anything from R4 000 to R12 000 a day.
This includes hotels, food, night shifts and out-of-city allowances but would exclude salaries.
In September, the Saturday Star revealed that Malema was living beyond his means - with a luxurious Sandown home and a C63 Mercedes-Benz.
At the time it was estimated that he would have to earn more than R50 000 a month to meet his obligations.
This week, Beeld newspaper reported how the ANCYL leader's bodyguards, who drive him around in a Range Rover, were caught speeding at more than 100km/h in a 60km/h zone in his hometown, Seshego, in Limpopo.
Now Malema is being investigated by the Transport Department for allegedly threatening nine traffic police offi- cers at the roadblock for having the temerity to stop him.
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