Julius Malema has a lot of explaining to do. The EFF leader is set to appear in court to explain where he got the money to pay his R18 million tax bill. We should get the truth out of him, but we’ll probably just get some mumbling and quotable comments.

The City Press has said that “impeccable sources” have told the paper that alleged tobacco smuggler Adriano Mazzotti is the one playing sugar-daddy for Malema – helping him out to pay the outstanding amounts.

Mazzotti, a director of cigarette company Carnilinx, is also under investigation by Sars for smuggling and tax evasion, and has also admitted to contributing R200,000 to the registration of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF).

“They have never asked me where the money has come from,” said Mazzotti. “Why do they say to the media they want to know but they don’t tell me? This is very unprofessional.”

A source close to the investigation told City Press this week that Sars wanted to establish whether any dirty money, from any source, was used to settle Malema’s tax bill.

Adriano Mazzotti

Check out the full story on the City Press.