Julius Malema

Julius Malema
MP
Malema in 2011
President of the Economic Freedom Fighters
Incumbent
Assumed office
26 July 2013
Deputyvacant
Preceded byParty established
9th President of the African National Congress Youth League
In office
April 2008 – April 2012
DeputyAndile Lungisa
Ronald Lamola
Preceded byFikile Mbalula
Succeeded byCollen Maine
Member of the National Assembly
Incumbent
Assumed office
21 May 2014
ConstituencyLimpopo
President of the Congress of South African Students
In office
1999–2002
Personal details
Born
Julius Sello Malema

(1981-03-03) 3 March 1981 (age 43)
Seshego, Transvaal Province, South Africa
Political partyAfrican National Congress (1990–2012)
Economic Freedom Fighters (2013–present)
Spouse
Mantwa Matlala
​
(m. 2014)​
Children3
Parent
  • Flora Mahlodi Malema (mother)
Alma materUniversity of South Africa
University of the Witwatersrand
OccupationPolitician
NicknameJuju

Julius Sello Malema (born 3 March 1981) is a South African politician. He is the founder and leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), a populist[1] far-left political party known for the red berets and military-style outfits worn by its members.[2][3][4][5] Before the foundation of EFF, he served as president of the African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) from 2008 until his expulsion from the party in 2012.

As a child, Malema joined the ANC and was a highly engaged member growing up; he was ultimately elected president of its Youth League in April 2008 under controversial circumstances. While president, he was an early proponent of nationalising South Africa's mining industry and expropriating land without compensation. He rose to national prominence as an outspoken supporter of Jacob Zuma, then-ANC president and later President of South Africa. However, Malema's relationship with Zuma strained immensely following numerous disciplinary deliberations against him by the ANC; by 2012, he was campaigning for Zuma to be removed from office, ahead of the ANC's 53rd National Conference. In April of that year, months before the conference was due to take place, Malema was expelled from the ANC for bringing the party into disrepute. The following year, he founded the EFF, and was elected to the National Assembly in 2014, winning 25 seats in the assembly.

Malema has been embroiled in a variety of legal issues throughout his political career: he has been convicted of hate speech twice, once in March 2010 for demeaning comments about Zuma's rape accuser, and again in September 2011 for singing "Dubul' ibhunu" ("Shoot the Boer"). In 2012, Malema was charged with fraud, money laundering and racketeering.[6] After numerous postponements,[7][8] the case was dismissed by the courts in 2015 due to repeated delays by the National Prosecuting Authority, leading to perceptions that the charges were politically motivated.[9] However, AfriForum announced in 2018 that it would mount a private prosecution of Malema on the corruption charges.[10]

Malema is a controversial and divisive figure in South African politics: he has been favourably described by both Zuma[11] and the Premier of Limpopo Province, Cassel Mathale, as the "future leader" of South Africa.[12] Detractors describe him as a "reckless populist" with the potential to destabilise South Africa and spark racial conflict.[13]

  1. ^ Mbete, Sithembile Nombali (June 2015). "The Economic Freedom Fighters - South Africa's turn towards populism?". Journal of African Elections. 14 (1).
  2. ^ Pauwels, Matthias (9 May 2019). "What the EFF's self-styled militarism says about South Africa's third largest party". The Conversation. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
  3. ^ Emma Thelwell. "5 reasons why the EFF's red berets matter". News24. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
  4. ^ Milton Nkosi (11 July 2013). "Julius Malema launches Economic Freedom Fighters group". Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 17 August 2014.
  5. ^ Stone, Setumo "Malema takes command of Economic Freedom Fighters". BDlive. Retrieved 17 August 2014.
  6. ^ Staff (25 September 2012). "Charge sheet links Malema, businessman". IOL.co.za. Retrieved 28 March 2013.
  7. ^ Maylie, Devon (30 November 2012), "Zuma Critic Faces South Africa Charges", The Wall Street Journal
  8. ^ "Malema trial still going ahead". eNCA. 21 June 2013. Archived from the original on 9 May 2019. Retrieved 17 August 2013.
  9. ^ "Corruption Case Against Julius Malema, a South African Opposition Leader, Is Dismissed". The New York Times. 5 August 2015.
  10. ^ "Reaction to EFF slap and assassination claims makes Malema feel misunderstood". Retrieved 9 February 2019.
  11. ^ Cite error: The named reference future-leader-sowetan was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  12. ^ Cite error: The named reference future-leader-iafrica was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  13. ^ Cite error: The named reference escape-discipline-reuters was invoked but never defined (see the help page).