Malema owes R10m
2012-04-22 10:28
Carien du Plessis and Sipho Masondo, City Press
Johannesburg - Suspended ANC Youth League leader Julius Malema has been served with a tax bill of more than R10 million.
At the same time, Malema hit out at his detractors, saying they have “unleashed all state agencies against me because they want to silence me”.
Speaking outside his house in Flora Park, Polokwane, on Saturday, Malema said if anybody wanted to arrest him “they know my address”.
The South African Revenue Service (Sars) has added to Malema’s woes by demanding more than R10 million in taxes from him - apparently related to the millions deposited into his Ratanang Family Trust.
Malema is likely to be kicked out of the governing ANC this week for ill-discipline.
R120m?
Malema initially reacted with shock when City Press approached him for comment, saying via SMS: “What? That’s not possible.”
But later he again replied via SMS, saying his accountant said the amount owed to Sars was R120 million. He added: “We prefer to (deal) with Sars directly, not through City Press.”
It is not clear how he got to the figure of R120 million, or whether he was joking.
Soon afterwards, his lawyer, Nicqui Galaktiou, sent the following message: “Disclosure of Mr Malema’s private affairs with Sars is a violation of his right to privacy.”
She also said publishing private tax information was a criminal offence “and breaks the sanctity between a taxpayer and Sars”.
City Press understands that the more than R10 million he owes Sars includes penalties. Money owed in an assessment usually emanates from income that wasn’t declared or not fully declared.
Tax troubles
Three independent sources confirmed Malema’s tax troubles.
City Press reported last month that in 2010 alone, R3 million was paid into the trust by different people.
The league’s officials said in a statement in July last year if there was any wrongdoing on the part of the trust, Malema “is open and ready for investigations by Sars, and any other law enforcement agencies”.
It is believed Malema will object to the Sars assessment. He could then approach a tax court or appeal against the finding in a high court. At this point, his tax affairs would become public. If this appeal is turned down, he’d have to pay up or have his assets attached.
Sars spokesperson Adrian Lackay could not comment, saying taxpayers’ affairs are secret.
