Malema back in court over taxes

REFILE - CORRECTING DATE South African politician Julius Malema is pictured during an interview with Reuters in Johannesburg July 22, 2013. Malema, the expelled "bad boy" of South Africa's ruling African National Congress and now facing racketeering charges he denies, this month launched the nation's newest political movement the Economic Freedom Fighters, calling for a revolutionary jolt to Africa's biggest economy through nationalisation of mines and expropriation of white-owned land. Picture taken July 22, 2013. REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko (SOUTH AFRICA - Tags: POLITICS)

REFILE - CORRECTING DATE South African politician Julius Malema is pictured during an interview with Reuters in Johannesburg July 22, 2013. Malema, the expelled "bad boy" of South Africa's ruling African National Congress and now facing racketeering charges he denies, this month launched the nation's newest political movement the Economic Freedom Fighters, calling for a revolutionary jolt to Africa's biggest economy through nationalisation of mines and expropriation of white-owned land. Picture taken July 22, 2013. REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko (SOUTH AFRICA - Tags: POLITICS)

Published May 26, 2014

Share

Johannesburg -

Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema is set to appear in the Pretoria High Court on Monday to fight the final sequestration of his estate as compensation for unpaid taxes.

Malema - or any other interested party - has until 10am on Monday to give the court reasons why his sequestration should not be made final.

Last week, Malema's lawyer, Tumi Mokwena, said that the firebrand leader, who is a newly sworn-in Member of Parliament, would oppose the finalisation of an order to seize his assets.

In April, a trust was launched to collect funds to settle Malema's R16 million South African Revenue Service (Sars) bill, but it is not clear if the trust has secured enough funds to help him.

According to court documents, Malema owed R16m plus interest after failing to submit tax returns between 2006 and 2010.

In 2010, Sars contacted Malema about his failure to submit tax returns. It took Malema 18 months, after many attempts by Sars, to file his outstanding returns.

Malema also failed to register his Ratanang Trust for tax purposes, and Sars had to do this on his behalf. Sars attached some of Malema’s property to recoup the taxes he owed.

In May last year, Malema's incomplete mansion in Sandton, Johannesburg, was sold on auction for R5.9m - although it was later revealed the bidder could apparently not afford the home.

Malema's farm in Limpopo fetched R2.5m at an auction in June 2013, and several of his household goods were also auctioned off. - Sapa

Related Topics: