Left-wing South African politician Julius Malema narrowly escaped being barred from public office on Monday when a judge placed him under "provisional sequestration" due to outstanding debts of 16 million rand ($1.4 million) to the tax authorities.

A full sequestration ruling would have prevented Malema from taking a seat in parliament after May 7 elections had his Economic Freedom Fighters party gained sufficient votes.

His lawyer told Reuters that Malema, a strident critic of President Jacob Zuma, was considering an appeal against the provisional ruling even though it did not affect his political ambitions.

Julius Malema,expelled  African National Congress (ANC) youth leader is current leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) political party.