Review: Archie Henderson

Malema: Money. Power. Patronage, by Micah Reddy and Pauli van Wyk (Tafelberg)

There is a revealing moment in Julius Malema’s life, according to one of the authors’ sources, when the young man on the make meets a lawyer who has been hired to help him.

Seraj Ravat, an accountant, was asked to join a meeting at which a law firm was attempting to help Malema “in sorting out his tax affairs”, they write. It had been clear for some time that Malema had little understanding of how taxation worked and the SA Revenue Service was on his case.

It was to be Ravat’s third – and final – meeting with Malema.

We have only Ravat’s word for this meeting, but it’s worth repeating. It concerns an advocate, Andre Bezuidenhout, briefed by Brian Kahn Attorneys, the law firm trying to help Malema. “[Mr Bezuidenhout] spoke harshly to Mr J S Malema and said that if he does not shut his mouth and allow them to bring his affairs in order, he will go to jail. The meeting lasted 10 minutes.” Continue reading →