NEWS & ANALYSIS

"Visiting Mister Makhokha!" - Daily Sun

The front page and lead story of SA's largest daily newspaper, July 25 2013

DAILY SUN FRONT PAGE

 

Daily Sun - YESTERDAY Daily Sun got calls claiming Tshimangadzo Makhokha might not be a big shot businessman after all. So the People's Paper paid a visit to Tshimangadzo's home village. AND FOUND THAT HIS WIFE LIVES IN A TWO-ROOMED HOUSE WITH THEIR THREE KIDS!

Tshimangadzo was the last bidder standing to buy Julius Malema's house in Flora Park, Polokwane, Limpopo. He bought the house for R1,4 million on Tuesday. He paid a R100 000 deposit to secure the house.

He told people he was a self-made businessman who owns Khoza Development Properties and said he bought the house to use as business premises and not to live in. In his home village of Dopeni outside Thohoyandou, Daily Sun found that:

  • Tshimangadzo's wife lives in a two-roomed house with their three kids. There is another unfinished house in the same yard.

His response: that is just one of my many houses.

  • Tshimangadzo does not even own a car, according to villagers.

His response: I own two cars.

Tshimangadzo's wife refused to speak to the People's Paper. His fellow villagers say that they were shocked when they saw him on TV on Tuesday night.

"This guy doesn't even have a car. How on earth does he afford such an expensive house.

"There is something he isn't telling us, unless he won the lottery," said a villager who asked to remain anonymous.

Tshimangadzo's neighbour said it was shocking that he can afford to buy such an expensive house when he can't even afford to drill for water in his own yard.

"We are struggling with water in our village. Just like anyone else, his wife walks for more than a kilometre to get water," said a neighbour.

"He is an overnight millionaire who doesn't even own a car."

Justice Khoza, owner of Khoza Development Properties, confirmed that Tshimangadzo works for his company in Polokwane. Asked why Tshimangadzo is always seen around his village in Thohoyandou, Khoza said it might be that his company will be working in the area.

He refused to tell the People's Paper what Tshimangadzo's job entails.

Tshimangadzo told Daily Sun that he is a tax practitioner, a goat farmer and owns shares in Khoza Development Properties. He said he doesn't go to the office as he is a shareholder.

"The house you saw is new and it isn't my only house. My wife stays there to guard it. I have other houses in different villages," he said.

See the Daily Sun mobi site for more on this and other stories....

The Daily Sun is South Africa's largest daily newspaper with an average circulation of 330 000 and a readership of 5.7m (as per AMPS 2012ab). Its Facebook page can be accessed here. It can be followed on Twitter here. To find about advertising on the Daily Sun click here.

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