Julius Malema – Page 3

SARS denies Malema secret meeting

The SA Revenue Service has denied it had a “secret meeting” with Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema.

“Sars does not conduct secret meetings with any taxpayer,” spokesman Adrian Lackay said.

“Any taxpayer has the right to seek remedies from Sars when a tax dispute arises between the taxpayer and Sars, as well as the right to meet with Sars with suitably qualified legal or other representatives.”

Malema said in a statement on Sunday that he, his lawyer and accountant met with Sars officials when he was still president of the ANC Youth League.

“In this meeting, my personal tax matters were briefly discussed in the presence of all. My lawyer and accountant, together with Mr Van Loggerenberg [a Sars official] were then requested by the commissioner to excuse themselves from the meeting and an indication was given on their departure that Mr Van Loggerenberg will be helping us to resolve my issues.”

He said he remained behind with the Sars commissioner and his deputy.

“In this closed session between the three of us, the details of the ‘intelligence dossier’ were discussed, and in what looked like their defence I was told that [President] Jacob Zuma had a similar Sars problem and they helped him with it,” Malema alleged.

“…They both offered to help me with my tax matters because they have done it before with Mr Zuma and other comrades.

“[The then Sars deputy commissioner Ivan] Pillay added that they would do this also because both of them are comrades and that he in particular was from exile.”

Malema claimed to have an “intelligence dossier” which, in his view, proved Sars had a special unit focusing on him and other persons because of their association with and support for Zuma.

Lackey said Sars did not provide preferential treatment.

“Taxpayer behaviour determines what course of action Sars institutes,” he said.

“If the taxpayers needs assistance and is willing to comply with his or her obligations, Sars will provide assistance. If the taxpayer demonstrates no willingness to contest or rectify instances of non-compliance, Sars takes stronger punitive actions.”

He said the matter with Zuma had gone to court and Zuma’s tax affairs were regularised.

“This is all on public record.”

Sars said on Friday Malema had failed to “refrain from making false public statements about the state of his tax affairs and his engagements with Sars”.

As a result it invoked section 67(5) of the Tax Administration Act and revealed a history of Malema’s interaction with it. The act allows it to disclose taxpayer information that would otherwise be confidential.

According to Sars, Malema ultimately accepted that he owed it R16 million in tax. He did not offer to convert any of his assets to pay his tax debt and never asked for any form of payment arrangement.

Sars attached some of Malema’s properties to recoup the R16 million debt.

In May, his incomplete mansion in Sandton, Johannesburg, was sold on auction for R5.9 million.

His farm in Limpopo fetched R2.5 million at an auction in June. Several of his household goods were also auctioned off earlier this year. – Sapa

Malema a ‘serious threat’ says SARS

Julius Malema’s comments about Sars poses a serious threat to the tax-collecting agency’s integrity, it says.

In a statement released by Sars, it said: “On June 27 2013 counsel for [Sars] addressed a letter to Mr Julius Malema and his legal representative, cautioning Mr Malema to refrain from making false public statements about the state of his tax affairs and his engagements with Sars.

“In subsequent weeks, Mr Malema has not only refused to correct his lies, he has in fact repeated such allegations in various news interviews.”

During the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) national assembly last week, Malema said Sars must not allow itself to be used to settle political fights. He said his colleague Kenny Kunene and other EFF members had received notices from Sars stating they were under investigation. Sars had an obligation to rise above political divisions to ensure the public could trust it with their finances, he said. Malema said if Sars continued to allow itself to be used, the EFF would fight back.

Sars on Friday said it was because of Malema’s comments that it had decided to invoke section 67(5) of the Tax Administration Act which allowed it to disclose taxpayer information that would otherwise be confidential.

Malema’s history with Sars
In 2010, Sars contacted Malema when he failed to submit his tax returns for a number of years. It took Malema 18 months, after many attempts by Sars, to file his outstanding returns. “Ultimately he failed to regularise his tax affairs,” said Sars. Malema had still not registered the Ratanang Trust for tax purposes. Sars had to register it on his behalf. “Neither of these situations, his personal income tax affairs and that of the trust, was helpful in demonstrating his willingness to comply with his tax obligations,” the agency stated.

“Such situations do not only speak to the failure of Mr Malema to comply with his statutory obligations, but also the fact that it is not fair for Sars to treat one taxpayer different from another.” After eventually receiving the outstanding tax returns it became clear, through an analysis of the information, that Malema submitted inaccurate information to Sars for the tax years 2005 to 2011. The same applied to the information submitted about the trust.

“All indications were that Mr Malema was attempting to restructure his asset holdings without informing Sars.” Because of this Sars launched a financial investigation into his tax affairs. The financial investigation found that Malema had failed to register for tax in 2005, he under-declared and mis-declared income in the years 2005 to 2011 and was assessed for about R16-million. Malema also failed to submit the tax returns for the Ratanang Trust.

The investigation found that Malema, while engaging with Sars, was transferring assets he owned to third parties in a clear attempt to shift assets outside the reach of Sars, it said. Malema had made no attempt to pay any amount towards his tax debt. “Ultimately when Sars reached a conclusion of how much tax Mr Malema owed … and despite him having had, by his own account at least R4-million available at the time, he opted not to pay one cent towards his tax debt,” stated Sars.

Malema accepted that he owed Sars R16-million in tax, but he did not offer to convert any of his assets towards his tax debt and he never asked for any form of payment arrangement. “Mr Malema failed the procedural requirements to qualify for a settlement for tax debt through his own design, and not because ‘somebody decided’ so.

“Mr Malema must, as we all do, face the consequences of his actions. He had ample opportunity to utilise the various mechanisms provided for in law to state his case,” the agency stated.

Sars attached some of Malema’s properties to recoup the R16-million tax debt owed by the controversial leader. In May, his incomplete mansion in Sandton, Johannesburg, was sold on auction for R5.9-million. His farm in Limpopo fetched R2.5-million at an auction in June. Several of his household goods were also auctioned off earlier this year. – Sapa

Malema, EFF backs Zanu-PF

Newly formed South African political party, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) yesterday called on Zimbabweans to vote overwhelmingly for Zanu-PF in the July 31 harmonised elections to protect the gains of the war of liberation.The EFF party is led by former ANC youth league leader Julius Malema.

“The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) calls upon the revolutionary people of Zimbabwe to defend the Zimbabwean revolution by voting for Zanu-PF and retaining comrade Robert Mugabe as the President of that liberated nation,” the party said in a statement.

“The gains of the Zimbabwean revolution must be defended.

“These gains find concrete expression in the historic and unparalleled land redistribution programme that took land from 4 000 white settler farmers who owed 80 percent of Zimbabwean land, and redistributed it to more than 274 000 Zimbabweans! It is your victory. Defend it by any means necessary!”

The EFF said Zimbabweans stood to benefit economically by retaining a Zanu-PF government which has over the years implemented pro-poor policies aimed at uplifting the lives of ordinary Zimbabweans.

The party saluted Zimbabweans for enduring and surviving a brutal and illegal economic sanctions embargo imposed by the West as punishment for returning the stolen land to its rightful owners.

“The people of Zimbabwe have been punished as a strategy to separate the people from the revolutionary leadership of Zanu-PF and leadership of President Mugabe. We say do not allow the schemes of the enemies of Africa to succeed. Vote for liberation! Vote Zanu-PF!

“We implore the people Zimbabwe to realise that the Zimbabwean revolution is still under massive attacks and new plots are being hatched and new schemes cooked to reverse the gains you have made.

“The demonisation of Zanu-PF and comrade Mugabe is part of the plot to divide the nation for re-colonisation,” it said.

The EFF also called on Zanu-PF to continue implementing the indigenisation programme in order to complete the economic emancipation of the black majority. – The Herald

Rogue firms got R900m contracts

The Limpopo Human Settlements Department has awarded contracts worth R900 million to companies with invalid tax-clearance certificates.

This is according to a forensic investigation commissioned by the provincial Treasury Department into multimillion-rand low-cost housing projects.

Some of the beneficiaries in the controversial procurement were business associates of former premier Cassel Mathale and expelled ANC Youth League leader Julius Malema.

At the time, former human settlements MEC Clifford Motsepe denied any wrongdoing. But in April, the provincial treasury instructed that the contracts must be cancelled.

The Star has not seen a full report by the Joburg-based law firm Edward Nathan Sonnenbergs, which was commissioned to investigate the matter.

Former treasury MEC David Masondo instructed Motsepe to cancel the contracts, saying the procurement process was “seriously flawed”.

He suggested that Human Settlements officials who processed the procurement were incompetent and ordered that an investigation be launched against department head.

The Public Protector and the Public Service Commission are also investigating the matter.

Premier Mathale, who was recently told to resign, claims to have done nothing unlawful. – The Star

Latest EFF gain confuses mine bosses, ‘Boers’

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) scored a significant political victory at the weekend, when one of the worker leaders at the forefront of the labour strike in Marikana, outside Rustenburg, joined the organisation.

Xolani Nzuza was paraded as a prominent EFF member during the organisation’s national assembly at Uncle Tom’s Hall in Soweto at the weekend.

Nzuza was among Lonmin miners who presided over several mass meetings before and after the Marikana massacre, when the police gunned down 34 striking mineworkers on August 16 last year.

Strangely, Nzuza confused the mine bosses, mostly British passport holders, with the “Boers”, or Afrikaners however.

“The president of Nkandla decided to go and meet the Boers and not the workers who voted for him. Once he saw Juju (Julius Malema) was with us, he tried to come. Now, our lawyers have not been paid and are begging for (financial) assistance,” Nzuza said.

He is also a member of the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu), which recently eclipsed the rival ANC-aligned National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) as the majority union at Lonmin.

His decision to join EFF has raised the organisation’s hopes that it could make serious inroads at Marikana, and possibly around other mines in Rustenburg’s platinum belt.

Nzuza told of workers’ pain at how the government had “abandoned” them.

“We still haven’t received the R12 500 promised to us. Till on Monday, we are still waiting for (President Jacob) Zuma’s government.

It’s painful (because) our brothers died (for that pay rise),” Nzuza said.

He took a swipe at Zuma for siding with the mine bosses and for not paying the legal fees of the families of the slain and wounded miners at the Farlam Commission of Inquiry. – IOL

Malema: I’m persecuted by Indians and Afrikaners

Julius Malema has alleged that the tax case against him is a politically motivated conspiracy run by a group of Indians ‘in bed’ with Afrikaners.The Economic Freedom Fighters leader alleged this in a report by the Sunday Times.

“I’m subjected to political persecution by political leadership led by [Finance Minister] Pravin [Gordhan], with his group of Indians,” Malema was quoted as telling the newspaper.

“It’s a small clique of Indians who are in bed with a group of Afrikaners in [the SA Revenue Service (Sars)], and Afrikaners in the law fraternity.”

He reportedly claimed the “small group of Indians” had a “political programme” against him.

“The Afrikaner are [sic] pursuing a racial hatred against Julius and what he advocates for,” he was quoted as saying.

On Tuesday, Malema’s Polokwane house was auctioned.

Sars attached the property to recoup Malema’s R16-million tax debt.

In May, Malema’s incomplete mansion in Sandton, Johannesburg, was sold at auction for R5.9-million. His farm in Limpopo fetched R2.5-milolion at auction in June. Several of his household goods were also auctioned earlier in the year.

Malema also faces corruption charges in the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court. He is accused of making nearly R4 million from corrupt activities, and is out on bail of R10 000. – Sapa

Malema’s EFF gets 1000 new members

Malema's rally in Soweto on Saturday — Malema’s rally in Soweto on Saturday

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) have secured over 1000 new members, it said on Saturday.

“We received 1 100 new members on the first day of recruiting,” said party leader Julius Malema at a press briefing in Soweto.

“If this becomes a trend then we will be getting 1 000 member[s] every day. It is going to be bigger than what we expected.”

This exceeded their expectations, he said.

The EFF — which had gathered at the the Uncle Tom community hall for a two day national assembly — plans to contest next year’s general election.

Malema said the EFF would be officially registered with the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) on Monday after a few amendments had been made, including changes to its logo.

The EFF logo depicted an arrow instead of a spear, and this was to be changed.

Malema said the party would register with double the required number of members needed to contest the election.

“I was told by the IEC that we should have 500 members to register but we are going register with 1 100 new members,” the former ANC Youth League leader said.

Malema is facing corruption charges in the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court. He is accused of making nearly R4-million from corrupt activities, and is out on bail of R10,000.

He faces charges of fraud, corruption, money-laundering, and racketeering.

On Saturday, Malema acknowledged that intimidation was part of politics, but expressed concern about the alleged intimidation of his members.

He said “people with pangas” had intimidated his members during an EFF meeting in the Vaal, but did not say when this happened. He noted that intimidation tactics were worse in Mpumalanga.

“I am more worried about Mpumalanga because they have the potential to kill,” he said.

Malema also encouraged Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi and his wife to stay strong amid the rape allegations against him.

Vavi’s lawyer Dup de Bruyn said earlier that a case of extortion was opened against a woman who allegedly tried to blackmail Vavi. He said the case was opened at the Sandton police station on Thursday evening. Police spokeswoman Captain Kym Cloete verified this.

In a statement, Vavi denied the rape of a Cosatu colleague, saying he had been in a consensual extramarital affair with the woman.

Malema said he expected Vavi’s wife to stick by his side and not allow “his detractors any room for joy”. – sapa

EFF warned on land grab

Government is ready to act if Julius Malema and his organisation, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), act on threats to seize farms, Beeld reported on Friday.

State must take over ‘all land’, says EFF State must take over ‘all land’, says EFF

Agriculture Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson told the newspaper that if Malema and EFF supporters occupied farms or agricultural land, action would be taken.

“There is no way we will allow people to sow discord in our farming communties for party-political gains,” she was quoted as saying.

She was reacting to the EFF’s founding manifesto, released on Thursday, in which the organisation said that all land should be transferred, without compensation, to the state.

Joemat-Pettersson told Beeld that it was a misperception that all commercial farmers were white. Violence and farm murders had already traumatised rural communities. Anyone who encouraged illegal action on farms would face the full might of the law, she said.

She warned farmers not to take the law into their own hands and gave assurances that Cabinet members of the security cluster would do whatever it took to stabilise the situation.

All land should be transferred to state ownership, according to the Economic Freedom Fighters’ founding manifesto.

“The state should, through its legislative capacity, transfer all land to the state, which will administer and use land for sustainable development purposes,” the EFF said in its manifesto.

“This transfer should happen without compensation, and should apply to all South Africans, black and white.”

Once the land was under state control, those currently using land or intending to use it would have to apply for a “land-use licence”.

The licence would only be granted once an application was filled out stating what the land would be used for, the EFF said.

The licence would be valid for 25 years and could be renewed based on whether the land was being used as planned.

“The state should, within this context, hold the right to withdraw the licence and reallocate the land for public purposes.”

The EFF said expropriation without compensation was one of its seven non-negotiable “cardinal pillars”.

During the launch of the “protest movement” earlier this month, its leader Julius Malema said the EFF had a plan that included the non-negotiable principles of land expropriation and nationalisation of mines, both without compensation.

“[The EFF is] the people’s organisation, inspired by people’s suffering on the ground,” Malema said at the time.

It would embrace an “anti-capitalist and anti-imperialist ideology”, and aspired to non-racialism and non-sexism. While white capitalist monopoly was an enemy of the EFF, “no one is going to be driven into the sea”.

“You are going to be forced to share.”

At a rally later that day in Sebokeng, Malema told residents that once the EFF became the ruling party it would take the land.

“We are going to take this government and once we take it, we are not going to negotiate, we are going to take our land.

“We are going to take it because it’s our land.”

He also said “those who want land must be given land”.

In its manifesto the EFF said “no one should be allowed to own land forever”.

“[This is]… because those who have money can, over time, buy huge plots of land and use them for counter-developmental private purposes, such as using land as game farms.

“A maximum of 30 years can then be placed on all land leases applied for by private corporations and individuals, with the state retaining the right to expropriate in instances where the land is not used for the purpose applied for.”

The EFF is holding a conference in Soweto on Friday and Saturday to work out its policies and manifesto. – Sapa

No more borders for Africa, say EFF

The Economic Freedom Fighters will advocate the integration of Africa by eliminating national borders, according to its founding manifesto.

The “protest movement”, led by Julius Malema, said the borders between African countries were “unnecessary”, especially those between South Africa and Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland.

“The EFF will … advocate for the ultimate integration of the African continent through the erosion and eventual elimination of unnecessary borders, which, in the case of South Africa will entail the Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland borders in a manner that involves and includes the participation and approval of those countries,” it said in its manifesto.

“This will also be encouraged in other parts of the African continent.”

This formed part of the EFF’s policy on “progressive internationalism”.

The EFF said it would also advocate for free trade across the continent.

On immigration, the movement committed itself to taking up the struggle of all immigrants, whether they were in South Africa legally or illegally. It said immigrants should be guaranteed basic rights when they were in the country.

‘Access to health … education’
“Certain basic rights cannot be denied to any human being who is in South Africa, whether they are in possession of certain documents or not.

“Basic rights that should be guaranteed include access to health, access to education for children, protection from super-exploitation by employers, and access to burial rights in South Africa.”

The process of applying for citizenship should not be complicated.

The EFF is holding a conference in Soweto on Friday and Saturday to work out its policies and manifesto. – Sapa

Nationalise the SARB, says Malema

The SA Reserve Bank must be owned by the state in order to serve the interest of South Africans, the EFF said.

“The general practise in the world is that governments own their reserve bank. South Africa is one of the two if not three that do not own their own reserve bank,” said Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema.

“It [Reserve Bank] regulates the interest rates and once that is in the state ownership it will be regulated to the benefit of the people, so that our people can afford to buy houses and cars without having to pay high interest.”

Malema spoke to Sapa on the sidelines of an EFF consultative forum held in Johannesburg.

The members discussed principles on which the party’s policies would be based.

One of the priorities discussed during the plenary sessions was land ownership.

Malema said the party was clear on what would be the final policy of the organisation.

“The land issue is a national crisis. Our people have waited for the transfer of land for the past 20 years. The ANC has promised that it will deliver 30 percent of the land by 2014, but it has only delivered eight percent,” he said.

“The majority of our people don’t have the land, to own the means of production for the development of this country.”

He said the position of the EFF on land ownership would be part of the party’s priorities in its manifesto.

“The position is that we are expropriating without compensation. We want that to be an act [of law], and before it becomes an act, our people should begin the process of occupying the land,” he said.

Malema said the state would have to resolve the dispute with the owners of the private land which will be occupied.

“But our people don’t have to be evicted. They [government] must stop evicting people who occupy the land.”

EFF also wanted a full audit of who owned the land and for what purpose it was being used.

“We need to know who owns the land and what are they using it for. There is a lot of abundant land which has been fenced and is not being used for anything. We want to use that land for production and creation of jobs in South Africa,” Malema said.

Mbuyiseni Ndlozi national spokesman of the EFF said the consultative process was the beginning of policy discussion for the party.

“This was a national consultative forum which started policy conversations for the national assembly which is taking place next week,” he said.

The national assembly would be made up of representatives from all the regions and provinces, and it would conclude its EFF policy discussions next weekend.

Other policy issues discussed at the consultative forum held on Saturday were education, health, corruption and economic transformation. – Sapa

Malema to sue over ‘drunkard and womaniser’

Julius Malema has considered taking legal action over a scathing attack on him by the ANC’s Gauteng chairperson Lebongang Maile.

At the press conference on Tuesday, the ANC Youth League’s Gauteng chairperson, Lebogang Maile, blamed the league’s former president, Julius Malema, for the youth league’s financial problems.

“Where is the money of the ANC Youth League? The ANC Youth League owes [creditors] more than R50-million.”

He also accused Malema of being a “drunkard and a womaniser”.

Malema said he planned to sue Maile, as his veiled allegation that Malema embezzled youth league funds bordered on defamation.

He demanded that Maile retract the statement and apologise, and denied that he was a womaniser.

“I am not a womaniser; I am a 32-year-old man with one child. I do not have a girlfriend,” he was quoted as telling the newspaper.

“Maile is 33-years old or more with no less than six children. He is expecting twins as we speak.” – Sapa

EFF will rule next, says Malema

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) will become the new ruling party in South Africa, leader Julius Malema said on Saturday.

“We are going to take this government and once we take it, we are not going to negotiate, we are going to take our land,” he said at an EFF rally in Sebokeng, south of Johannesburg.

“We are going to take it because its our land.”

He told a cheering crowd that he would not be intimidated by anyone.

“They will say all sorts of things about us, but they will never shake us,” he said.

“If they want to disrupt our meetings, we are waiting.”

Malema urged residents not to be scared.

“We must never be intimidated. We all have a right to be involved in politics.”

He told residents that the EFF was there to defend them.

“There is no one who is going to tell us this is a no-go area. We can go anywhere in South Africa,” he said.

“There is no one who’s going to take your pension. We are here to defend you.”

Malema was at the rally with businessman Kenny Kunene, and expelled ANC Youth League spokesman Floyd Shivambu.

He said earlier that the African National Congress needed Jesus to return to earth, because the party had become arrogant.

“They [said they] were going to rule until Jesus comes back. What kind of statement is that?” he asked.

“They need Jesus. So Jesus has come back they must go out. They are not the Alpha and Omega”.

He said the people of the country were the “Alpha and Omega”.

“You must exercise power. We can take over this government,” Malema said.

In March 2009 President Jacob Zuma told African National Congress supporters in Mpumalanga that the party would rule until Jesus returned.

Malema, who previously held the position of ANC Youth League president, was expelled from the party in 2012.

He launched the EFF “protest movement” on Thursday.

He said at the time that the EFF had a plan that included the non-negotiable principles of land expropriation and nationalisation of mines, both without compensation.

It was also strongly opposed to foreign land ownership.

“[There will] never be foreign ownership of land, that is what we will do when we take over.”

Malema warned South Africans on Thursday to prepare for the sacrifices that would come with the EFF’s envisaged revolution.

“There will be a day [when] we will wake up without bread on the shelves. We will learn to make our own bread.”

He said the EFF would have firm anti-corruption policies.

Malema is facing corruption charges in the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court.

He is accused of making nearly R4-million from corrupt activities. He is out on bail of R10,000 and faces charges of fraud, corruption, money-laundering, and racketeering. – Sapa

Fighting white supremacy with a hat

A defiant Julius Malema has unveiled radical draft policies that seek to turn South Africa into a socialist country in the mould of Cuba and Venezuela.

Malema insists that his Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF)stand a good chance of toppling the ANC, and that they are the only credible alternative to the ruling party.

Addressing the media at Constitution Hill in Johannesburg on Thursday, Malema said the expropriation of land without compensation and the nationalisation of the mines and other key sectors of the economy are central to his organisation’s policy.

Malema also introduced some new members, including former ANC Youth League North West chairperson Papiki Baboile, former youth league spokesperson Floyd Shivambu and former Umkhonto weSizwe (MK) cadre Mpho Ramakatsa.

MK has just celebrated the raid on Liliesleaf Farm, where Mandela and his Communist buddies were holed up.

Promising to lead service delivery protests, the expelled ANC Youth League president said his party would contest elections on a socialist ticket and “non-negotiable principles”.

The broad movement would also fight “white supremacy”, restore the dignity of blacks and “make it warm” outside the ANC.

This included the expropriation of land without compensation, the nationalisation of banks and mines without compensation, as well as the fight against imperialism and white monopoly capital.

He promised to build a coalition of like-minded parties, civil society movements, church leaders and trade unions to take over South Africa.

Malema unveiled the Economic Freedom Fighters’ (EFF) interim national and provincial leaderships, led by himself and national co-ordinator Mpho Ramakatsa, known as the “central command team”.

The national leadership includes actor Fana Mokoena and businessman Kenny Kunene.

Controversial millionaire Kenny Kunene, has, in just a few short days, rebranded himself from playboy big spender to serious politician.

Kunene, better known as South Africa’s King of Bling and for eating sushi off semi-naked models, is now going biblical, comparing himself to Saul, who saw the error of his ways on the road to Damascus, and changed his name to Paul.

Kunene joined Julius Malema’s Economic Freedom Fighters, declared his political will, and vowed to leave his old ways behind – including bathtubs of Champagne and his usual bevy of at least 15 beautiful women who made up his modern-day harem.

He said this week the women understood.

To go with his more serious image, Kunene has changed his Twitter handle from @zarsushiking to the more respectable @Kenny-T-Kunene. Whereas the Sushi King would tweet about parties and women, Kenny-T is quoting Plato and Tupac Shakur interchangeably.

The official launch of the EFF comes three years after Malema visited his idol, late Venezuelan president and socialist leader Hugo Chavez, to learn about nationalisation.

Insisting he was prepared to suffer the consequences, Malema said he would be guided by the Freedom Charter rather than “your liberal constitution” in his push for social justice and redress.

He dismissed the constitution as the “product of negotiations and compromises” rather than the will of the people.

Malema reiterated that the EFF would not collaborate with the DA because “our enemy number one is white monopoly capital, and it’s supported by the DA”.

Malema said while his movement’s policies would be decided by the national assembly to be held in Soweto at the end of the month, draft policies included the expropriation of land; nationalisation; free education, health care and housing; cracking down on corruption; as well as industrialisation and the introduction of minimum wages to close the gap between rich and poor.

“We are going to be a government-in-waiting. We will take over South Africa and will usher in the demands of our people. We will fight against white supremacy and for the restoration of black African dignity. Our people should feel comfortable again that this is their soil,” Malema maintained.

He added that white South Africans should be prepared to share land and wealth because, not being prepared to share, “you are going to be forced to share”.

Malema insisted that not even the seizure of his own properties and assets would deter him. “Let them take everything else. They will take the last thing, and then what?”

He said anyone found guilty of corruption would never lead any of the EFF’s structures.

Ramakatsa said the ANC’s time was up because the ruling party had failed to deliver beyond political freedom.

He dismissed claims that Malema was too compromised to lead a party, given the corruption charges he faced. He said “comrade Julius is not guilty until found guilty by a court of law”. It was surprising that the state had charged Malema for corruption but left those he had been accused of corrupting, he added.- IOL

Andile Mngxitama in talks with Malema

Black consciousness proponent Andile Mngxitama is in talks with Julius Malema’s Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) for a possible coalition ahead of next year’s general elections.

But he said it was not yet a done deal and he was not one of the leaders set to be announced by the EFF at its advertised press conference on Thursday.

Mngxitama is one of the national coordinators and founders of the September National Imbizo, a movement for young people with a strong emphasis on nationalisation, land redistribution without compensation and keeping politicians and civil servants accountable by forcing them to use public facilities like state schools and hospitals.

He said he would meet leaders of the EFF tomorrow to talk about outstanding issues.

Mngxitama said his movement had considerable support but was currently busy with an audit to determine exactly how many supporters it has.

He also invited other black consciousness movements and parties like the PAC to team up with them.

In an invitation to the press conference at Constitution Hill in Joburg, the EFF said they would announce the outcomes of a meeting by its “National Central Command Team”.

It will also announce and introduce its interim leadership in provinces.

The EFF will also announce plans for a “national assembly” on July 27 in Soweto, where it would invite young people to tell them “what is to be done”. – City Press