Modest Malema auction draws big crowd

Norman Motaung with the electronic piano he bought for nearly R10 000. Herman Verwey/City Press

DVD player bought for R8 800 by unnamed man rumoured to be ex-youth leader’s bodyguard.

The auction of Julius Malema’s worldly possessions attracted onlookers like a carcass attracts hungry vultures.

People from all walks of life flocked to the sheriff of the court’s office in Polokwane on Friday to witness the former firebrand youth leader’s belongings go under the hammer.

The sheriff’s office, which normally sees fewer than 50 buyers for auctions each Friday, attracted more than 500 people from all over Polokwane who rushed inside to see what was on offer.

Some wasted no time, throwing themselves on to Malema’s lounge suites, wanting to experience how it felt to sit on couches where the former president of the ANC Youth League had once sat.

Said one man who asked not to be identified: “You will never know, maybe his luck will rub off on me and I will make it big in business or politics one day.

Remember the biblical story of Elisha who grabbed Elijah’s coat as the chariot of fire snatched him into heaven and he (Elisha) received a double portion of Elijah’s powers? It could happen to me.”

Most of the property was taken from Malema’s palatial home in the Polokwane suburb of Flora Park, and his farm situated about 20km outside town.

Many came with high expectations of seeing exclusive furniture, top-of-the-range TV sets, computers and tablets, as well as fridges and kitchenware.

They were disappointed.

Other than a Eurogrand electronic piano, which fetched a surprising R9 300, no designer items were auctioned.

Those that went under the hammer included ­flatscreen TVs, microwave ovens, chairs, black-, navy- and fawn-coloured couches, fridges, coffee tables and carpets.

A set of rustic garden chairs attracted some interest.

Many spectators didn’t even bid, choosing instead to follow the auctioneer around as he sold item after item, much of which was bought by second hand goods traders.

Others, however, came with the intention of celebrating Malema’s downfall.

Boy Mamabolo, Malema’s childhood friend-turned-enemy, bought a mirror for R300.

“I wish the SA Revenue Services could auction everything – his farms, houses and all that he has.

They should auction even his cabbages, which he is farming,” he said.

Mamabolo also bid for the piano but quit when somebody else upped it to more than R6 000.

The piano attracted a lot of interest, with people sitting and pretending to play it.

Rumours circulated that some of the bidders were Malema’s friends who wanted to return the goods to him.

A man, rumoured to be Malema’s bodyguard but who refused to reveal his name, bought a DVD player for R8 800.

When asked why, he responded: “I just liked it.”

Dr Marthinus Scheepers, a regular shopper at the sheriff’s office, said he had never seen so many people there before.

“I came specially to see if I could get any bargain out of Mr Malema’s property. I’m interested in the wine bottle cooler-type fridge. The piano and those sofas over there also look interesting,” he said.

“Look, I was here last week, there were fewer than 10 people. I don’t remember seeing more than five-dozen people here.”

The sheriff’s office, which normally sees fewer than 50 buyers for auctions each Friday, attracted more than 500 people from all over Polokwane who rushed inside see what was on offer.

Some wasted no time, throwing themselves onto Malema’s lounge suites, wanting to experience how it felt to sit on couches where the former president of the ANC Youth League once sat.

Said one man who asked not to be identified: “You will never know, may be his luck will rub off on me and I will make it big in business or politics one day. Remember the biblical story of Elisha who grabbed Elijah’s coat as the chariot of fire snatched him into heaven and he (Elisha) received a double portion of Elijah’s powers? It could happen to me”.

Most of the property was taken from Malema’s palatial home in the Polokwane suburb of Flora Park, and his farm situated about 20km outside town.

Many came with high expectations of seeing exclusive furniture, top-of-the-range TVs sets, computers and tablets, as well as fridges and kitchenware.

They were disappointed.

Other than a Eurogrand electronic piano, which fetched a surprising R9 300, no other designer items were auctioned.

Those that were included flat-screen TVs, microwave ovens, chairs, black, navy and fawn-coloured couches, fridges, coffee tables and carpets.

A set of rustic garden chairs attracted some interest.

Many spectators didn’t even bid, choosing instead to follow the auctioneer around as he sold item after item, much of which was bought by second hand goods traders.

Others, however, came with the intention of celebrating Malema’s downfall.

Boy Mamabolo, Malema’s childhood friend-turned-enemy, bought a mirror for R300.

“I wish the SA Revenue Services could auction everything – his farms, houses and all that he has. They should auction even his cabbages which he is farming,” he said.

Mamabolo also bid for the piano but quit when somebody else upped it to more than R6000.

The piano attracted a lot of interest with people sitting and pretending to play it.

Rumours circulated that some of the bidders were Malema’s friends who wanted to return the goods to him. A man, rumoured to be Malema’s bodyguard but who refused to reveal his name, bought the former leader’s DVD player for R8 800.

When asked why he responded: “I just liked it”.

Dr Marthinus Scheepers a regular shopper at the sheriff’s office said he had never seen so many people there before.

“I came specially to see if I could get any bargain out of Mr Malema’s property. Im interested in the wine bottle cooler type of a fridge. The piano and those sofas over there also look interesting,” he said.

“Look, I was here last week there was less than 10 people. I don’t remember seeing more than 5 dozen people here”.