Who is Julius Sello Malema? Flash Uganda Media looks at his biography, age, wife, family, tribe, achievements, and relationship with Jacob Zuma, ANC, Mantwa Matlala, Munzhedzi, Kopano, Maropeng Ramohlale, Ratanang, and the early life and education of the South African politician.
Julius Sello Malema, also known as Juju by his fans, is a South African politician, born on March 3rd 1981 in Seshego, Limpopo, to a single mother who was the only breadwinner for the family by working as a domestic helper to make the ends meet.
He is a charismatic and controversial political figure who has left no stone unturned for the country’s political landscape. From the very beginning as a youth activist to his rise as a prominent political leader, Malema has been a polarizing force, captivating the nation with his radical stances.
He is known for his populist appeal, fierce advocacy for economic justice and unending pursuit of social and political change. This biography takes the reader on a roller coaster ride where they will explore the life, career, and impact of Julius Malema, a man whose struggle and influence for the betterment of his people will continue to be felt in South African politics.
Early life:
Julius was raised in a poor household, facing the harsh realities of poverty and inequality that were widespread during that era. He experienced the hardships from the very beginning of his life endured by his fellow brothers, by the majority of South Africans, that fuelled his passion for social justice from a very young age.
Malema grew up poor, as his mother passed away at a very young age. He observed the socioeconomic struggles his mother faced as an overarching reason for his joining politics. He was raised in the township of Seshego near Polokwane in the Transvaal.
Educational background
During his early school days, he attended Mohlakaneng in Limpopo. It was not an easy ride for Julius through high school to keep up his grades high, though he still managed to complete his studies.
After completion of his graduation from high school, he managed to complete a 2-year diploma course in youth development at the University of South Africa in 2010.
The next year he studied communications and African languages at the same university. He graduated with a Bachelor of arts degree in 2016 before again obtaining a BA (honours) in philosophy in 2017. In 2018 he enrolled in a Master’s degree programme at the University of the Witwatersrand.
Work experience
As a teenager Malema joined the African national congress (ANC) and became involved in youth politics, rapidly climbing the ranks due to his exceptional oratory skills and charismatic presence.
He has been in activism and politics since the age of 9, he has shown a great interest in politics at a very young age. He joined the “young pioneers” group of the African national congress at the age of 9.
According to some sources at that time his job was to remove the party posters, but as time passed by, during the year 1994, when he just took the step to adolescence he joined the ANC youth league where he took the leadership position both at the local and regional level.
Though he was still young he attended the meetings and engaged as a leader and host of political activities. No doubt his plate was full of work, but he struggled to balance between academics, as his scores went down, which was published online and the report was claimed fake by ANC.
Political career
Malema’s breakthrough moment came when he was elected as president 2008 of the ANC youth leagues, a position he used to leverage his influence and advocate for radical policies. Along the way, however, and due to his relatively young age, Malema has never been too far away from controversies.
In 2009, while gathering support for the then-presidential candidate, Jacob Zuma, Malema was cited to have made controversial statements.
Those statements gave him a lot of negative attention from the media as well as the public and his political opponents. Sticking to his words, the politician did not show any remorse for his actions which landed him in more trouble.
He publicly sang an ANC liberation song that included the lyrics “shoot the Boer”, held by many to be racially charged and have the potential to start violence. This song was mentioned as the “hate speech”.
In March 2010 he was convicted of having used “hate speech” with regard to comments he made about a woman who had accused Zuma of rape in 2006.
In April 2010 a string of incidents- ranging from Malema’s public support of Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe and his equally public disparagement of Mugabe’s rival, Morgan Tsvangirai, at a time when Zuma was trying to mediate between the two men, which led to Malema’s verbal altercation with a BBC journalist from a press conference that drew rebukes from the ANC and Zuma.
Malema responded to Zuma’s rebuke by publicly criticizing him.
There was a time when he staunchly defended him. Based on this behaviour, Malema was called to the ANC disciplinary hearing in May 2010, where there was a plea bargain agreement that suggested him to publicly apologize for his disciplinary actions and a suspension would be subjected to him should he be involved in similar behaviour within the next two years.
Achievements
- Chairman of the youth league branch in Seshego in 1995.
- Chairman of the congress of south African students in 1997.
- National president of COSAS in 2001.
- He was elected the president of the ANC in 2008.
- He was re-elected unopposed for a second term as the president of the ANC youth league in 2011.
- He was listed on Forbes, as the “10 youngest power men in Africa” in 2011.
- He launched his own political party in 2013.
- He was sworn in as a member of parliament after the general elections in 2014.
Awards and nominations
In recognition of his influence, the world economic forum named Malema as one of their young global leaders in 2010. However, his nomination was met with criticism due to his controversial political stance and rhetoric.
Mounting Controversies
During his tenure he became famous for his controversial statements and provocative style, leading to numerous confrontations with the ANC leadership. His calls for the nationalization of key industries and land expropriation without compensation garnered significant attention and support from other segments of society.
Some of the charges against Malema were brought forward by the special investigative unit “the Hawks”. Some famous controversies are listed below.
Threats to journalists, Allusions to violence (2016), Comments on white genocide (August 2018), comments on F.W. de Klerk’s death (November 2021)
Expulsion from ANC
In the following year, Malema became popular within his party by his populist message, which included calls for nationalizing mines, banks and expropriating white-owned farmland. Because of his work, he was re-elected as the president of the ANC in June 2011.
Because of his rhetoric speech and behaviour, which ANC considered disruptive, the party convened another disciplinary hearing in August of the same year, after he called for the government in neighbouring Botswana to be overthrown.
Further many disciplinary actions including the criticism of Zuma-led the ANC to charge him with provoking divisions within the party, which led to sowing intolerance.
During the same year in November, Malema was found guilty of the first two charges and that would cost him 5 years of suspension. His appeal was rejected in February 2012, when the ANC expelled him because of his behaviour. He re-appealed in April 2012 and ANC upheld the expulsion.
Despite his fame in some parts, Malema’s confrontational approach and apparent bold disobedience of the ANC leadership led to his expulsion from the party in 2012.
This event was a turning point in his political career, as he transformed from the people’s hero to a fierce critic. People started criticizing him. This expulsion never undeterred him, which led him to form his own political party, the economic freedom fighters (EFF), later the same year.
The rise of the economic freedom fighters (EFF)
The EFFs emerged as a radical left-wing political force, which worked on radical economic transformation, nationalization of key industries in the area, and a host of other pro-poor policies. The party’s red beret and militant rhetoric quickly became a symbol of resistance against status and inequality.
Malema’s charisma and support for the below-poverty-line communities led to an increase in devoted followers, especially the youth of South Africans.
The EFF styled itself as a “radical, leftist, anti-capitalist movement” fighting for economic emancipation. The new party worked on many of the controversial propositions made by Malema while in the ANC, which includes the nationalization of mines and banks and the expropriation of land for redistribution.
The EFF also worked on new initiatives that include education, health and welfare services. This new party won the 6% of the national vote which was enough for Malema-led EFF colleagues’ seats in the 400-seat national assembly.
His tenure has not been without controversies. Whether it is aggressive rhetoric or the inflammatory remarks that led to racial tensions, he faced multiple legal battles including corruption charges, money laundering and hate speech.
His problems were not restricted to the above-mentioned dispute with the ANC and South Africa’s courts.
His lavish lifestyle and expensive tastes drew repeated criticism, not because they appeared the populist message, and hence in September 2012, the South African revenue services asserted that Malema owed almost $ 2 million in unpaid taxes and was supposed to pay it.
During the same month, he was also charged with money laundering, corruption, fraud and racketeering cases. Because he was surrounded by so many cases, his trial on those charges was reportedly postponed.
Legacy and influence
Malema’s way of politics is undeniable, as he left a deep impact on South African politics. He has worked to bring positive change to a large section of the population, drawing attention to issues of economic inequality, land reform and corruption.
His unapologetic advocacy for the lower section of the society and marginalized has resonated with many making him the most formidable force in South African politics.
Personal life
He is happily married to Mantwa Matlala, in December 2014 in a private ceremony held in his hometown of Seshego in Polokwane.
The couple has been blessed with two children from this marriage their first son Munzhedzi was born in 2016, and their second son Kopano was born in 2018, though he has an older child named Ratanang, from his previous relationship with Maropeng Ramohlale.
Conclusion
Julius Sello Malema’s life and career is an open book that defines his work as a relentless pursuit of social and economic justice.
From his early humble beginning as a youth activist to becoming the leader of ANC and EFF, Malema has continuously challenged the political status and stood for the poor, backward class of society fighting for their rights to education, healthcare which led him to earn fame, admiration and criticism along the way.
His journey as a revolutionary firebrand will continue to shape the betterment of South African people and people for years to come, ensuring the issues he championed remained at the forefront of the nation’s agenda.
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