Malema’s farm goes under the hammer

Expelled ANC Youth League leader Julius Malema's cabbage and tomato farm in Limpopo was on Monday auctioned for R2.5 million. The uncontested bid was made by Calli Calitz from Wencor Holdings -- an abattoir in Polokwane. Bidding for the 140-hectare farm worth R4 million began at R800 000. The only female bidder who seemed to have her money set on the Schuilkraal farm surrendered when the amount reached R1.5 million. Fifteen other bidders took part in the auction. Park Village Auctions advertised that the farmhouse had four bedrooms, a lounge-cum-dining room, an enclosed patio, kitchen with scullery, and a study nook. A thatch rondawel was on the property, as was a swimming pool and garage workshop, among other features. There was also a partially completed second house on the property. The farm was seized by the Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) in March as part of selling off Malema's assets to settle his unpaid tax bill. The AFU attached the farm as it believed the property had been bought with the proceeds of crime, after a R52 million tender had allegedly been awarded illegally to On-Point Engineering. Malema's Ratanang Family Trust had shares in the company. The farm is registered under Gwama Properties, which is owned by Lesiba Gwangwa, the director of On-Point Engineering. National Prosecuting Authority spokesman Medupe Simasiku said at the time that the property was allegedly acquired with the proceeds of fraud, corruption, theft, and money laundering. Another of Malema's properties was auctioned last month. The half-built mansion in Sandown, Johannesburg, fetched R5.9 million on auction. The proceeds of the sales would go towards paying Malema's tax arrears, which now stood at around R7 million. The amount was originally R16 million.