The City of Johannesburg on Monday would not comment on whether ANC Youth League President Julius Malema owed thousands of rands in outstanding traffic fines.
“We are not allowed by law to disclose people’s personal accounts or credit status, unfortunately, irrespective of their social status,” member of the mayoral committee for safety and security Councillor Elgina Ndhlovu said in a cellphone text message.
The Star newspaper on Monday reported Malema had 12 outstanding traffic fines amounting to R4,450. The offences were apparently committed over the past two years around the greater Johannesburg area.
Eleven of the fines were for speeding and ranged from R100 to R1,100.
The other was for skipping a red light. All the fines were linked to the C-class Mercedes-Benz, which Malema claimed was the only car he owned.
Nine of the fines have apparently “stagnated” after several attempts to serve summonses at an address in Seshego, Limpopo, failed.
Malema, who came under fire the past week for his lavish lifestyle — apparently bankrolled through his directorships in companies that earned millions through government tenders — also did not have a valid driver’s licence.
His licence had expired in September last year, the newspaper reported.
Johannesburg Metro Police chief Chris Ngcobo referred queries on the issue to Ndhlovu.
Malema was not available for comment. ANCYL spokesman Floyd Shivambu said the league contacted the metro police about the issue.
“They said they do not know anything about it, and if there was something like that they couldn’t even tell us because it is private information.”
He could not say whether Malema himself had enquired about the fines.
“Whether he did or not, I do not know because it is private information.” Sapa
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