Limpopo - The man who bought Julius Malema’s Polokwane, Limpopo, home has swiftly professed his respect for President Jacob Zuma, dismissing the expelled ANC Youth League president as a party renegade.
Emmanuel Makhokha lashed Malema shortly after agreeing to pay R1.4 million for the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader’s state-of-the-art property on Tuesday.
This follows suspicions in some quarters that Malema used his associates and supporters to buy back his previously auctioned properties - a Sandton home and a Limpopo farm – in a bid to frustrate Sars and the Zuma administration.
Malema’s three-bedroom house in the Polokwane suburb of Flora Park went under the hammer as part of Sars’ drive to recoup the R16m he owes them.
Wearing a gold-and-black ANC jacket, Makhokha made his political affiliation clear.
“I am a full ANC member, but that one (Malema) is expelled, he is no longer a member,” he said.
Asked for comment on Malema’s claims that the seizure of his assets was proof that Zuma had unleashed state organs on him, Makhokha defended the president. He said the sale had nothing to do with Zuma.
“Actually, I don’t want to comment about Julius’s issues or the president. I respect the president,” said Makhokha.
The Zuma government and the ANC have previously dismissed Malema’s allegations that state organs were being abused to fight political battles.
Tuesday’s auction was reduced to a fierce contest between two bidders. Initially, the auctioneer, Eli Stroh, demanded R1.5m for the property.
When no one raised their hand, Stroh reduced the price to R600 000. Then several bidders raised their hand.
But it was the relentless Makhokha and a man standing behind his apparent partner who continued bidding, even after the price skyrocketed beyond the R1m mark.
The auction attracted onlookers who had come to see another property of the one-time powerful politician being sold off.
Makhokha introduced himself as one of the directors of Khoza Property Developers. He said the house would be used as an extra office for the company.
The main bedroom has an en suite bathroom and a shower. Outside the main house, a bar lounge faces a swimming pool.
The auctioneer said the perimeter wall in the front side was illegal. “It is too high,” said Stroh.
The 1 013m² house appears to have been well maintained inside and out.
Earlier this year, Malema’s incomplete Sandown mansion was bought for R5.9m by Limpopo businessman Norman Tloubatla.
It’s unclear how much Malema now owes Sars.
Sars spokeswoman Marika Miller said this week the Tax Administration Act 2011 prohibited Sars officials from discussing taxpayers’ affairs with third parties.
Malema’s lawyer, Tumi Mokwena, said he was not aware of his client’s outstanding tax bill.
“I would not know because we have not received a report as to what the figures are,” said Mokwena.
The EFF leader’s Schuilkraal farm in Polokwane was bought for R2.5m by Callie Calitz of Wencor Holdings. The farm had been seized by the National Prosecuting Authority’s Asset Forfeiture Unit in March.
The NPA indicated in a statement at the time that the sale of the farm had nothing to do with Sars. It said the proceeds from the farm would be deposited into the Criminal Asset Recovery Account.
Authorities believed the farm had been bought through the proceeds of crime via a R52m project management unit contract.
They added that the Limpopo Department of Roads and Transport had fraudulently awarded the contract to the controversial On-Point Engineering company. On-Point is partly owned by Malema’s Ratanang Family Trust.
Public Protector Thuli Madonsela subsequently ruled that the contract was unlawful.
Malema and On-Point directors Lesiba Gwangwa and Kagisho Dichabe, and businessmen Selbie Manthatha, his wife Helen and brother Makgetsi were arrested late last year in connection with the On-Point contract.
They face fraud and money-laundering-related charges in the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court and the Mokopane Regional Court respectively.
The Star