Sequestration a closed matter: Malema

The provisional sequestration order against Julius Malema is a closed matter, the Economic Freedom Fighters' leader said.

"As far as I'm concerned, this matter is closed and those who thought sequestration will be a short cut to my political life, they will be disappointed because there is not going to be any sequestration," Malema told journalists outside the High Court in Pretoria.

The court earlier extended the provisional order against him to December 1.

Malema was confident he would not be sequestrated.

"Today's case was meant for [the] purpose of sequestration in case I do not comply with the agreement, and so far I've complied with every little detail of the agreement.

"So the first of December, that's when the matter will be struck off the roll because the last payment to Sars is on the 28th of November. Then we will just come here for formality for them to come and withdraw the case."

Malema rejected media reports on Sunday that alleged cigarette smuggler Adriano Mazzotti was helping him pay his tax bill.

City Press reported that "impeccable sources" had told the newspaper that Mazzotti was a generous financial donor to Malema, and could be the source of the repayments.

"Now there has been a story that there is some cigarette smuggler who is paying for my tax. That's not true," Malema said.

"My tax is paid by the trust established by fellow South Africans who saw this matter as a persecution, and the EFF lower structures are engaged in the mobilisation of resources, encouraging people to deposit money into this trust."

The EFF leader described the report as "absolute nonsense", and believed wrongs were being looked for where none existed.

"We are paying our dues and others must do the same. When you owe the state you pay. You don't have to go around hiding and using some laws and pieces of legislation not to comply with what you are owing to the state," he said.

Malema was disappointed by media reports that the SA Revenue Service (Sars) was investigating the source of his tax debt repayments. He would lay a complaint with Sars about the reported investigation.

"If they want to know where the money comes from, they must ask me. Why should they ask me through Ferial [Haffajee], the City Press editor?

"She's not paying tax on my behalf, so if you want to know who is paying Julius Malema's tax, you ask Julius Malema. You don't go to the media and newspapers."

Malema has previously admitted he had not attended to his tax affairs the way the law required. According to court papers, Malema owed Sars R16 million, plus interest, after failing to submit tax returns between 2006 and 2010.

In February, Judge Bill Prinsloo ordered that Malema's estate be provisionally sequestrated.

A final sequestration order would affect Malema's political career, as he would no longer be allowed to serve as a Member of Parliament.