Malema's house bought by town planner

The Polokwane house of Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema was bought by town planner Tshimangadzo Makhokha on Tuesday.

   

Makhokha, who has a stake in Khoza Development Properties, bid R1.4 million for the house at auction.

   

Wearing a leather jacket emblazoned with African National Congress emblems, he said he was happy to have won the bidding. 

   

He said his desire to purchase the house had nothing to do with the fact that it was owned by the expelled African National Congress Youth League leader. 

   

He planned to use it as one of his company's properties, he said.

   

The bidding, which lasted only a few minutes, opened at R500,000, followed by a bid of R600,000. 

   

Auctioneer Aggie Stroh, of Eli Stroh Properties, who had expected the property to fetch R1.5m, said he was satisfied with the sale.

   

Besides its high wall, the house was not unlike other properties in the area.

   

Stroh advised the buyer to consult the local municipality about the abnormally high wall, which appeared to be almost double the size of others in the area. 

   

"It is illegal... You see those marks... that is where the wall is supposed to end," Stroh said, referring to markers placed on the wall.

   

He also told Makhokha a borehole on the property might not be fully functional.

   

Makhokha left the premises, at 23 Mopani Street, Flora Park, in an Audi A4. He had a driver. 

   

The SA Revenue Service attached the house to recoup a R16m tax debt owed by Malema. 

   

Malema's incomplete mansion in Sandton, Johannesburg, was sold at auction for R5.9m in May. His farm in Limpopo fetched R2.5m at auction in June.

   

Several of his household goods were also auctioned off earlier in the year.

   

-Sapa