The South African Revenue Service will not be drawn into the furore surrounding Julius Malema’s lifestyle.
Sars spokesman Adrian Lackay said the revenue service would not make any public comment on the DA’s calls for it to conduct a lifestyle audit on the ANC Youth League president.
The DA’s Dianne Kohler Barnard publicly published a letter she has sent to Sars’s anti-fraud and corruption unit, asking it to investigate Malema. The letter came after it was revealed that Malema had torn down his R3.6 million Sandown home to build a R16m mansion with an underground bunker and tennis courts.
Neighbours said the house suddenly had a “sold” sign outside, and before they knew it, tractors and building equipment came and demolished it.
The Star established that the house does have building plans approved by the City of Joburg’s planning offices in Sandton.
“This comes alongside other reports of excessively high expenditure, including reports that Mr Malema settled a bill of R78 000 in cash at a luxury game lodge,” said Barnard. The MP said this did not correspond with reports that Malema earned R20 000 a month from the ANCYL.
“This poses grave questions regarding whether or not Mr Malema’s finances are above board.”
Barnard said the building of such an expensive house posed questions like which bank would lend him the money to build the house with his income, or alternatively, who has given him the money.
“I request that Sars conduct a lifestyle audit into the financial affairs of Mr Malema to ensure that his income is coming from legitimate sources and that the ANC Youth League leader is paying the appropriate tax on that income,” Barnard wrote.
Meanwhile, the league says it is not opposed to a lifestyle audit, but will not agree with Sars conducting one because of politicking.
“The league is of strong conviction that all South Africans should live honest and corruption-free lifestyles and be at all times ready to account on the resources they have access to,” said spokesman Floyd Shivambu. - The Star