Juju auction yields mere R55 000

People bid on the items previously owned by former ANC Youth League leader Julius Malema in Polokwane, Limpopo on Friday (February 22 2013). Malema’s movable property was auctioned to recover money owed to the South African Revenue Service. Picture: Herman Verwey/City Press

More than 500 people descended on the offices of the Polokwane sheriff to witness the property of former ANCYL president Julius Malema go under the hammer.

Malema’s movable property was auctioned today to recover R16.1 million owed to the South African Revenue Service (Sars).

About 30 items fetched around R55 000 at the auction, which was held at Ladanna, an industrial centre about 2 kilometres outside Polokwane.

Many of the people who came were not interested in bidding, but wanted to see the property belonging to the former firebrand youth leader.

Said Taki Motloung: “I’ve never been here, I just came to see what exactly Malema owned. We hear from you guys from the media that he drives fancy cars and lives in posh suburbs. I just wanted to see.”

Another first-time visitor to an auction, Mlibo Mosia, said: “I thought I would see very expensive furniture. The guy that owned a Breitleg watch cannot use such cheap furniture and household goods.”

Lerato Makhura, a regular at the sheriff’s office, said: “I come here every Friday. I didn’t come here as a result of Malema, but I can tell you that today it’s too packed. I suppose it’s because of Malema’s goods. Normally there is less than 50 people.”

Another regular, Phillip Benadie, said: “There is nothing of value here. This stuff is used by everyday people. Maybe he took his prized possession and hid them in his friends’ houses.”

Malema’s Eurogrand digital piano, which fetched about R9 300, was the most expensive item to be auctioned.

Other items which were auctioned include chairs, couches, TV sets, fridges, coffee tables and carpets.