ANC, ANCYL dismiss Malema lifestyle reports
2010-02-20 13:30
THE governing ANC and its youth league yesterday demanded a
retraction and an apology from The Star newspaper for a report on league
president Julius Malema’s lifestyle.
“These reports are not only far-fetched, but they are also untrue
as much as they are deceitful,” the ANC and ANC Youth League said in a joint
statement. “In our view they are meant to tarnish the good name and image of the
ANC Youth League president.”
The two organisations described as untrue the newspaper’s claim
that Malema bought houses – with a combined worth of almost R5 million – cash,
saying he went through banks.
The Star reported that Malema bought a three-bedroom home in
Sandown, north of Johannesburg, for R3.6 million in December. He had another
home in Polokwane for which he paid R1 million.
The ANC and ANCYL also dismissed as untrue the newspaper’s claim
that Malema earned a salary of about R20 000 a month, but did not reveal his
actual salary.
ANC spokesperson Ishmael Mnisi said in a telephonic interview that
the party did not dispute that Malema used a number of cars, however, he had
only “one car in his name”.
According to The Star’s article, Malema owns a black Mercedes-Benz
AMG, which retails at R734 000, but has been seen driving an Aston Martin and a
red Range Rover Sport.
He attended a University of the Witwatersrand lecture on Thursday
in a brand-new white Range Rover – with no number plates – which sells for
R1.2 million.
The ANC and ANCYL have threatened to take the matter to the press
ombudsman unless the newspaper publicly apologises to Malema.
“We will support any action on the side of the president of the
youth league, comrade Julius Malema, against the newspaper in defence of his
name, image and integrity.
“It is very unfortunate that a newspaper as reputable as The Star
would stoop so low by reporting so inaccurately about the personal affairs of
any person including comrade Julius Malema.
“We will also want to be provided reasons, through the apology that
we are demanding, as to the actual intentions of The Star newspaper and its
reporter of putting to the public so inaccurate information bordering on
defaming the youth league president.”
The newspaper described the article as a “lifestyle audit” and
wrote that it was “the first in a series of articles on the lifestyles of South
Africa’s politicians”.
The article followed the announcement by Finance Minister Pravin
Gordhan, in his budget speech on Wednesday, that targeted lifestyle audits would
be conducted this year.
The ANC and its youth league expressed concern about the rest of
newspaper’s planned series on lifestyle audits, and further asked what was to be
expected from such audits if the first lifestyle audit was “so off the
mark”.
The Freedom Front Plus said after the report was published
yesterday, it would ask the South African Revenue Service to “immediately”
investigate both Malema and his “real contribution” to income tax in recent
years, and the youth league itself.
Among other claims, The Star reported that Malema had been seen
wearing a Gucci suit and a Breitling watch worth about R250 000, and that he was
the director of four companies.
These were: 101 Junjus Trading CC, Blue Nightingale Trading 61,
Ever Roaring Investment and SGL Engineering Projects.
“If all the information is correct, then Mr Malema maintains a
lifestyle which is far above his income,” said FFPlus Parliamentary spokesperson
Anton Alberts. “A comprehensive investigation by the SA Revenue Service will
indicate whether this deduction is reasonable.
“He cannot, just like (World War Two Soviet leader, dictator
Joseph) Stalin, give himself out to be a communist who wants to nationalise
mines, but at the same time live like a capitalist.”
Approached by The Star for comment on the report, Malema said: “You
and your husband and your family – that’s who you need to write about. You go
away, just go away.”
ANCYL spokesperson Floyd Shivambu accused the newspaper of being
nonsensical.
“I think you need to rethink what you are doing. What business is
this of yours? How dare you call me and ask for comment on this?” he told the
reporter.
Mnisi, however, said the reporter should not have approached Malema
directly, but should have used the “proper channels”, which would have included
contacting not only the ANCYL, but official ANC spokesmen.
Concerns about Malema’s standard of living are not new.
As far back as September, the lifestyle image he was projecting was
questioned, most notably in the book, The World According to Julius Malema,
co-authored by author and columnist Max du Preez and journalist Mandy
Rossouw.
An excerpt on the Mail&Guardian Online notes that Malema
insisted “he lives within his means”. However, it observes that he parties at
Johannesburg’s trendiest clubs, “where there is no limit to the consumption of
Johnnie Walker Black Label whisky and Veuve Clicquot French champagne”.
“He lives in a big, smart house in upmarket Sandton and is always
seen in expensive cars, from BMWs to Lexus’s to Mercedes-Benz’s.
“Very comfortable in designer labels such as Fabiani, Malema
insists that his flashy lifestyle shouldn’t be an issue.
“It’s not me, it is this office. When I come here they give me a
cellphone, a laptop, and they’re trying to make my work easier. I don’t know
which car is which one. When they come to me and say, ‘chief, we are using this
car today’, I get in and we go.”
The excerpt continues: “The car that I drive means it meets my
salary and the ANC car scheme. The house that I have, it means my salary can
afford it, so I didn’t rob anybody, I didn’t take from the poor to have what I
have.”
Malema adds: “If we are going to refuse the youth to drive these
cars it means they are only good for white youth. Ours will never drive those
cars. So we must sit and appreciate the good things by whites and not by one of
our own. That’s what we’re trying to break.”
- SAPA