EFF react “with disgust” as details of Julius Malema’s home published
The EFF are reeling from another accusation of corruption, this time involving Adriano Mazzotti. But Julius Malema and co are fuming about other matters.
The uncomfortable details about the relationship between Julius Malema and tobacco kingpin Adriano Mazzotti have been laid bare in the media – but the EFF has been left fuming with the personal details that have been made public.
It was revealed on Monday that the Malema family, allegedly, live in a Johannebsurg home funded by Mazzotti. He’s a major player in the illegal cigarette trade and has a very chequered background. With the pressure on the EFF yet again to distance themselves from accusations of corruption, the party decided the best form of defence was attack.
Julius Malema, EFF fuming after address details shared
Without directly addressing the Mazzotti link, the red berets issued a fierce statement that laid into the South African press for “double standards” and “obsessive attacks”. Already at loggerheads with the SA media, this latest saga has soured the mood even further.
Julius Malema, Floyd Shivambu and Mbuyiseni Ndlozi have all rallied against news outlets over the last month or so, in a feud sparked by their drive to boot Pravin Gordhan out of office. The EFF have labelled both him and his daughter as “corrupt agents of state capture“. It now seems their spat with reporters will only intensify:
“The EFF condemns, in the strongest terms and with the disgust it deserves, the publication of Julius Malema’s residence. No-one has raised any problems with this unethical practice, because the dignity, safety and security of the Malema family
isn’t important to journalists.”“We warn all in the media that we will not tolerate their unethical and obsessive attack on the EFF. The invasion of privacy – which attempts to discredit our revolution – will also not be tolerated.”
EFF statement
Adriano Mazzotti responds
The details of Malema’s Hyde Park residency were shared by Jacques Pauw, who spoke to EWN about Mazzotti’s supposed influence over the CIC. However, the accused has since had a chance to explain his arrangement with Juju.
Mazzotti argues that although the family lives on the property, they are paying market-related rental prices – in this area of Hyde Park, rentals cost between R35 000 to over R100 000 per month.