Malema's house to be auctioned

Expelled ANCYL president Julius Malema's half-built Sandown mansion will go under the hammer on Thursday.

 

According to a report, Auction house Bidders Choice was hoping to raise between R2.5 million and R3m for the three-storey property. The home was attached by the court to help cover Malema's tax bill. He owes the SA Revenue Service (Sars) R16m. Malema bought the property in 2009 for R3.6m. He had the existing structure torn down and began building his own house with a private cinema room, a cigar lounge, a pool and a spa bath, a wine cellar, a coffee bar and provision for a lift. 

 

There was also a "song room". However, it had no fittings, flooring, plumbing or windows yet. On March 19, the former African National Congress Youth League leader had his Limpopo farm, worth approximately R4 million, seized by the Asset Forfeiture Unit. National Prosecuting Authority spokesman Medupe Simasiku said at the time that the property was allegedly acquired with the proceeds  from fraud, corruption, theft, and money laundering. 

 

The alleged crimes were perpetrated against the Limpopo department of roads and transport, Simasiku said. Alternatively, the property had been used to launder money. In January, sheriffs seized Malema's Sandton and Polokwane homes. Sars then rejected a R4 million settlement offer on the homes in February. Malema also faces charges of fraud and racketeering related to the irregular awarding of a R52 million tender to On-Point Engineering in Limpopo.

 

-Sapa