Malema's 'mahala' boozing spree at the Met

A yacht cruise, lamb kebabs and Johnnie Walker Blue Label were among the highlights of Julius Malema's free, whirlwind party itinerary in Cape Town.

The controversial leader of the ANC Youth League partied up a storm with friends in the Mother City, leaving a trail of empty whisky bottles and bills running into thousands of rands.

The Sunday Times can reveal that Malema stayed at the six-star One&Only Hotel while in the city to attend the J&B Met horse race and the launch of Johannesburg mining tycoon Kenny Kunene's ZAR nightclub in Green Point.

That was the launch at which Kunene ate sushi off a nearly nude model and at which Malema referred to the venue as an "ANC nightclub" - a statement he later denied, but that was captured in a video recording.

Over the weekend, Malema and his cohorts were seen quaffing bottles of champagne at breakfast. He also joined a party of revellers on a private yacht cruise from the nearby V&A Waterfront.

The group soon exhausted snacks supplied on the boat and ordered over R10000 worth of additional canapés, including chicken and lamb kebabs, from Reuben's Restaurant.

Hotel staff said Malema kept a relatively low profile. His bills were paid by a mystery businessman.

Malema yesterday issued a blanket denial over his visit saying: "Nobody paid my bill ... I paid my bill ... the only thing I can confirm is that I was at the Met."

He also said: "I did not sleep at One&Only ... check One&Only and see if they had a guest called Julius Malema ... "

But the hotel's managing director Clive Bennett said: "Malema was an invited guest of a South African businessman at One&Only."

Meanwhile, insiders at the J&B Met disclosed how a party of about 30 people, including Malema, rang up a bar tab of over R50000 last Saturday afternoon.

The group bought several bottles of Moët (R1000 a bottle), Veuve Clicquot (R900) and Johnnie Walker Blue Label (R3500). Malema wore purple silk pants and a pink jacket by local designer David Tlale.

"Malema arrived between 3pm and 4pm with about four guys, and then things started happening," said a witness.

"He was sitting talking to some beautiful young girls, getting up when photographers approached, avoiding being photographed. They were ordering bottles of whisky, Moët, Veuve, Johnnie Walker Blue Label, Green Label, Gold Label. They weren't buying just drinks, they were buying by the bottle. The table was covered in bottles."

Apple juice and lime cordial were popular additions to the scotch. "Some people were sent to Harleys (a liquor store in Cape Town) for more Johnnie Walker, and the bar had to restock on Minute Maid apple juice owing to popular demand. Johnnie Walker and apple juice was a popular mix."

The revellers ate sushi, prego rolls and oysters, and took to the dance floor as the evening progressed. Some guests reportedly ordered bottles of champagne and took them home.

The huge bar bill was not settled immediately, and staff complained of not being tipped.

"At the end of it all, there was a massive bill and nobody to pay it. Everyone had left. A man had left his credit card with the bar, but he could not be found.

"There was about R20 in silver coins collected over the course of the afternoon and evening, and that was all."

Management at Bar Code, the company that supplied liquor in the carpeted marquees, explained the apparent delay in settling the bill.

Said chief executive officer Clyde Barendse: "We were employed to serve alcohol to these people by a long-standing client (a company that invited Malema and other guests). Because it was a long-standing client, there was no urgency with the tab, it wasn't a problem." Barendse disputed the price tag.

On his drinking tastes and his jaunt on a yacht, a jovial Malema said: "I was not in a yacht, I was not in the One&Only, I don't drink Johnnie Walker Blue. People are going to laugh at you because they know I hate Johnnie Walker Blue ... anything I drink I pay myself."

• See the video of Malema at ZAR nightclub