Durban - Unless Edward Zuma, President Jacob Zuma’s son, can find a benefactor, he stands to be publicly humiliated on Wednesday when goods seized from his home go under the auctioneer’s hammer to help pay off a massive debt incurred for his wedding a year ago.
Bizarrely, when the Sunday Tribune contacted Zuma this week to ask how he felt about the imminent sale of his worldly goods, he claimed not to know anything about it.
He went on to assert that no official application for the seizure of the items had been served on him by the sheriff of the court, nor had he been invited to the auction.
“Why haven’t I been invited to attend this auction? I would like to go and see my things being auctioned. The only knowledge I have of this is what my wife and I have read in the newspapers. We have not received any type of formal notification and I am still in possession of all my goods,” said Zuma.
An almost incoherent Zuma went on to deny he owed his wedding planner, Paul Mann, money.
“I know nothing about the debt to Paul Mann. My wife dealt with all the wedding preparations, and as far as I know we do not owe Paul anything. Why hasn’t his lawyer contacted me?” he said.
Mann refuted this, saying he won his court action against Zuma, who still owes him R1 million of the R2.5m he billed them for their Hollywood-style bash.
The wedding of Zuma and his wife, Phumelele, took place at the Tala Game Reserve in October 2011.
When repeated appeals to Zuma to settle his debt failed, Mann said he took legal action. However, he remains optimistic that a last-minute settlement will be negotiated, sparing Zuma the humiliation of the auction and “bringing this very long, drawn-out matter” to a close.
Mann said his relations with the Zumas “remain cordial” and “our legal representatives are in negotiations”.
When the Sunday Tribune asked Zuma why he had not asked his father for help, he said, “The last time my father gave me money was when I was a student. Like any ordinary person I owe a lot of people and banks money. My father tells me to go and work for my money.
“That I am Jacob Zuma’s son is a non-entity. I am Edward and I live my own life.”
He said he and his wife lived in a rented flat in Pinetown.
This week the Sunday Tribune’s sister newspaper, The Mercury, reported that Zuma had forfeited his BMW X5 and costly household items to the sheriff of the court.
He told the Sunday Tribune a different story, denying he owned a vehicle of that description and saying he drove a navy blue 1.8 litre Toyota Corolla. He claimed his wife travelled by public transport.
“I wish I was able to afford an X5. It is my dream car, but unfortunately I can only afford to drive a car worth R80 000. So what BMW are they going to attach? Let’s wait and see on the day of the auction.”
However, on Saturday the Sunday Tribune witnessed Zuma sitting behind the wheel of a black BMW X5 in Nkandla.
Rumours have swirled for years that multimillionaire businessman and racehorse owner Roy Moodley has backed the Zuma clan when its members are in dire financial straits.
Although Moodley is known to be a long-standing friend of the president, Edward Zuma told the Sunday Tribune he did not know who Moodley was.
“I have never met the man in my life. Why don’t you tell me more about him?” he said.
Moodley himself told this newspaper that Zuma’s confiscated assets were not his own, but were instead owned by a mystery third party. He claimed it would be wrong and illegal to attach goods that belonged to someone not involved in the debt.
“Anyone can go to a court and get an order to attach items but they can’t really attach goods that do not belong to Edward. They can go to his house and take the goods, but can’t auction them.
“The goods will be returned to the rightful owner. An interpleader summons will be made to stop the auction and the removal of the goods.”
The tycoon refused further comment, claiming the issue was “too sensitive”.
Sunday Tribune