Johannesburg - EFF leader Julius Malema's ambitions to serve in Parliament will be dashed should a provisional sequestration order against him become final, his lawyer said on Monday.
“If it becomes final, it will affect him in Parliament. He will not be allowed to be an MP,” Tumi Mokoena said.
“But it's not a final order yet.”
Earlier, the Economic Freedom Fighters' leader was provisionally sequestrated by the High Court in Pretoria. A draft order was signed and made an order of court. Reading the order into the record Judge Bill Prinsloo said: “The estate of the respondent (Malema) is placed in provisional sequestration.”
Malema and anyone else who did not want the order to be made final had until 10am on May 26 to give reasons as to why this should not happen. The general election will be held on May 7.
Mokoena said Malema would pursue a seat in Parliament despite the provisional order.
“Yes, he will be able to stand in the election. He will continue in politics until the final judgment on the matter. It's not important to him. Should the (final) order be granted against him he will take it to the Constitutional Court.”
Mokoena said Malema intended appealing against Monday's decision.
According to court documents, Malema owed R16 million plus interest after failing to submit tax returns between 2006 and 2010. In 2010, the SA Revenue Service contacted Malema about his failure to submit tax returns.
It took Malema 18 months, after many attempts by the Sars, to file his outstanding returns. Malema also failed to register the Ratanang Trust for tax purposes, and Sars had to do this on his behalf.
Sapa