Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema has told billionaire businessman Johann Rupert that he’s free to leave South Africa if he so wishes.
Malema was addressing thousands of EFF supporters at Kanyamazane stadium in Mpumalanga at the party’s 6th anniversary rally on Saturday.
He claimed that Rupert controls South Africa, President Cyril Ramaphosa, Finance Minister Tito Mboweni, and Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan.
Rupert says if we don’t stop our nonsense, he’s going to leave. I want to call upon South Africans – let us speed up the process of accompanying Rupert to the airport because we don’t want Rupert in South Africa.
EFF leader Julius Malema
‘White monopoly capital’
The fiery leader was responding to reports that Rupert had complained of being labelled “white monopoly capital.”
Rupert also complained about the South African Revenue Service (Sars) “sabotaging” him and hinted that he was prepared to leave South Africa if the economy gets worse.
His comments are contained in Pieter du Toit’s book The Stellenbosch Mafia, which was released earlier this week.
However, Malema had harsh words for the billionaire. He called on EFF supporters to “pay a visit” to Rupert’s properties in Mpumalanga to force him to pay property rates and taxes.
Because the ANC is scared of him [and] the municipality is scared of him, let us go there. We will visit him and say to him, ‘if you want to leave, leave. Ugly Rupert.’
EFF leader Julius Malema
According to a City Press report, Rupert’s Leopard Creek gold estate is locked in a property rates dispute with Nkomazi Municipality in Mpumalanga.
Malema also warned EFF leaders that the party should never be infiltrated by “white capital,” of which Rupert is accused of being a member.
Reports earlier this week suggested that EFF Deputy President Floyd Shivambu was once in contact with Rupert to discuss a Limpopo hospital project.