By: Sello Theletsane
EFF leader Julius Malema is not giving up on fulfilling his dream of owning and living in a multi-million rand mansion in a leafy, affluent Sandton suburb.
Africa News Global can exclusively reveal that just like he did in 2011 when he was the president of the ANC Youth League, Malema has bought a house in Edward Rubenstein Drive in Sandown, one of Sandton’s affluent suburbs, and tore it down to build a multi-million rand four storey palace. An Africa News Global visit to the site this week revealed construction workers hard at work. Insiders familiar with the project say the mansion could be the biggest in the area and estimated it to cost between R60m to R80m once complete. It is not known how much the EFF leader paid for the original structure that he demolished to pave the way for his under-construction mansion as he and his party spokespersons have steadfastly refused to answer Africa News Global questions on the subject.
In 2011, Malema bought a property in the same neighbourhood for R3.6-million and then demolished it to make way for his double-storey mansion with a private cinema room, a cigar lounge, a coffee bar, a pool, and a spa bath, a strongroom, a rooftop view of Sandton, a wine cellar and provision for a lift. There was also a “song room” and underground parking. Many South Africans wondered then how Malema could afford splashing millions on a mansion while his sole income at the time was R50 000 monthly salary he earned from Luthuli House as the president of the ANCYL.
It was estimated then that Malema needed to earn in excess of R120 000 a month to support his lifestyle. However, there were allegations that Malema was using the Ratanang Family Trust to receive money from politicians, businessmen, mayors, and others, allegedly in exchange for facilitating government contracts. Malema’s hopes of completing and occupying his Sandton palace crashed in 2012 when he got into serious trouble with his own party and was expelled from the ruling party after facing charges of fomenting divisions and bringing the party into disrepute.
A year later things moved from bad to worse for Malema when he was slapped with a multi-million rand tax bill which he could not afford to pay. This resulted in all his cars, properties, and valuables being taken and auctioned to repay his tax debt. Sheriffs pounced on his incomplete Sandton mansion and even his cabbage farm in Limpopo. However, Malema went on to found the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), a political party voted for by millions of poor South Africans, who see Malema as their champion and one of them. Just over a decade after being stripped of all his properties, including his incomplete multi-million rand Sandton mansion by SARS, the EFF’s leader’s dream of owning one of Sandton’s most expensive mansions is back on track.
This time Malema is sparing no expense and is building an even bigger and better mansion than the one he lost to SARS in 2013. The under-construction massive structure is a four-storey building that is even bigger and certainly boasts more amenities than the one Malema lost in 2013 that reflects Malema’s penchant for class and taste. According to reports, Malema, his wife Mantwa, and his children currently live in a luxurious mansion in the leafy suburb of Hyde Park in a high-security estate owned by alleged cigarette smuggler, Adriano Mazzotti who is alleged to be the main funder of Malema and his party.
Upon completion, and once he occupies his new palace, Malema will join other super wealthy South Africans who live in the same affluent Sandton neighbourhood including flashy businesswoman Shauwn Mkhize, popularly known as MaMkhize, owner of Premier Soccer League (PSL) club Royal AM. However, just like ten years ago when many asked how Malema could afford to pay R3.6m cash on a property and demolish it to build a mansion while earning R50 000 a month as ANCYL president, questions will today still linger on how the EFF leader can afford to build a mansion estimated at R80m in one of Sandton’s affluent suburbs with an annual salary of about R1.4m he receives as a member of parliament (MP).
Earlier this week, Africa News Global sent questions to Malema and two party spokespersons. However, at the time of publishing, neither Malema nor his spokespersons had responded to our questions. The story will be updated to include Malema’s response, should he choose to do so. Below is a list of questions sent to Malema to which he is yet to respond.
Good afternoon Mr Malema
Our sources have told us that you are currently building a mansion almost similar to the one you were building in 2013, shortly after your expulsion from the ANC, a property that was auctioned before it was completed to cover your SARS tax bill totalling millions.
May you kindly respond to the questions below before 12 midday tomorrow, Wednesday (13 March 2024).
1. Can you confirm that you that you are the owner of a mansion currently under construction at Number 49A Edward Rubenstein Drive, Sandown, Sandton?
2. We are reliably informed that just as you did before building your incomplete mansion in 2013, you also bought another house at 49A Edward Rubenstein Drive worth millions, which you tore down before beginning to build your current mansion, can you confirm this?
3. If it’s true that you tore down a structure before beginning to build your under-construction mansion, are you willing to disclose the price you paid for the structure you tore down?
4. An architect who accompanied our team to the under-construction mansion estimated its value, once completed to be anything between R60m to R80m. Do you agree with these estimates?
5. If indeed you are the owner of the property, are you willing to disclose the source of your funding for the project?
6. If confirmed that you are indeed the owner of the multi-million rand property, how does it make you feel, considering the abject poverty that millions of South Africans live under, and also in the light of the fact that you and the party you lead, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), have fashioned yourselves as champions for millions of poor, destitute and downtrodden South Africans?
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