The ANC and its youth league on Friday 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.”
They described as untrue the newspaper’s claim that Malema bought houses — worth almost R5-million, in cash — saying the houses had been financed through the banks.
The Star reported that Malema bought a three-bedroom home in Sandown, Johannesburg, for R3,6-million in December last year. 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, Mnisi said Malema had only “one car in his name”.
According to the Star, 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”.
It followed the announcement by Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan, in his budget speech, that targeted lifestyle audits would be conducted this year.
The ANC and its youth league expressed concern about the rest of the newspaper’s planned series, and wondered what to expect if the first lifestyle audit was “so off the mark”.
Tax inquiry
The Freedom Front Plus said after the report was published on Friday that it would ask the South Africa 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 newspaper 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 FF+ parliamentary spokesperson Anton Alberts.
“A comprehensive investigation by the SA Revenue Service will indicate whether this deduction is reasonable.
“He cannot, just like 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 to comment on the report, Malema told the newspaper: “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 spokespersons.
The World According to Julius Malema
Concerns about Malema’s affluent lifestyle are not new.
As far back as September, his lifestyle was questioned, most notably in the book The World According to Julius Malema, co-authored by the Mail & Guardian‘s Mandy Rossouw and author Max Du Preez.
Malema insisted in the book that that he lived within his means, but his rise to riches happened in a flash — and he’s never had a job outside the ANC.
The book tells of how parties are held at the trendiest clubs in Johannesburg, where there is no limit to the consumption of Johnnie Walker Black Label whisky and Veuve Clicquot French champagne.
Very comfortable in designer labels such as Fabiani, Malema was quoted as saying 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.”
There is nothing wrong, said Malema, with a flashy lifestyle “if you can afford it”.
“We have deployed many young people in Parliament, their salaries are far beyond the duties they are responsible for. They don’t have kids, they don’t have big families. So if they think they must invest their money in houses, cars, why stop them? They are doing that legally. As long as they don’t forget where they come from and their obligation of serving the working class. 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.”