Julius Malema facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Julius Malema
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Malema in 2024
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| President of the Economic Freedom Fighters | |
| Assumed office 26 July 2013 |
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| Deputy | Godrich Gardee |
| Preceded by | Party established |
| 9th President of the African National Congress Youth League | |
| In office April 2008 – April 2012 |
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| Deputy | Andile Lungisa Ronald Lamola |
| Preceded by | Fikile Mbalula |
| Succeeded by | Collen Maine |
| Member of the National Assembly | |
| Assumed office 21 May 2014 |
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| Constituency | Limpopo |
| President of the Congress of South African Students | |
| In office 1999–2002 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
Julius Sello Malema
3 March 1981 Seshego, Transvaal Province, South Africa |
| Political party | African National Congress (1990–2012) Economic Freedom Fighters (2013–present) |
| Spouse |
Mantwa Matlala
(m. 2014) |
| Children | 3 |
| Parent |
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| Alma mater | University of South Africa University of the Witwatersrand |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Nickname | Juju |
Julius Sello Malema (born 3 March 1981) is a South African politician. He is the founder and leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF). This is a political party known for its members wearing red berets and military-style outfits. People sometimes call him Juju.
Before starting the EFF, he was the president of the African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL). He held this role from 2008 until he left the party in 2012. Malema became well-known for supporting Jacob Zuma, who was then the leader of the ANC. Later, Malema's relationship with Zuma changed. In 2012, he was no longer part of the ANC. The next year, he started the EFF. He was elected to the National Assembly in 2014.
Malema is a well-known figure in South African politics. Some people have described him as a future leader for the country. Others see him as a strong speaker who causes debate.
Contents
Early life and education
Julius Malema was born on 3 March 1981. He grew up in Seshego, a township near Polokwane in the Limpopo region. His family belongs to the Northern Sotho group. His mother worked as a domestic worker and raised him alone. After his mother passed away, his grandmother raised him.
Student politics
Malema says he joined the Masupatsela (meaning "trailblazers") movement of the African National Congress (ANC) when he was about nine or ten years old. His job was to remove posters from the National Party. In 1995, Malema joined the ANC Youth League. He became the chairperson of his local branch in Seshego.
In 1997, he became the provincial chairperson of the Congress of South African Students (COSAS) in Limpopo. He was then elected as the national president of COSAS in 2001. In May 2002, he led a COSAS student march in Johannesburg.
Education
Malema finished high school at Mohlakaneng High School in Seshego. In 2010, he earned a diploma in youth development from the University of South Africa (UNISA). He also completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications and African languages in 2016. In 2017, he earned an Honours degree in philosophy. In 2018, he started studying for a master's degree at the University of the Witwatersrand.
ANC Youth League
Becoming president: April 2008
By 2008, Malema was a strong candidate to become the president of the national ANC Youth League. He had the support of the outgoing president, Fikile Mbalula. Malema was elected ANC Youth League president in April 2008. He won with 1,833 votes. His allies, including Andile Lungisa, were also elected.
The election results were questioned by some people. They claimed that some delegates were stopped from voting. The meeting became very disorderly, with some people throwing chairs. The ANC stepped in, and the results were later confirmed.
Support for Zuma: 2008–2010
When he became Youth League president, Malema strongly supported ANC president Jacob Zuma. He was also a critic of former ANC president Thabo Mbeki. In June 2008, he spoke in support of Zuma. He said the Youth League was ready to support Zuma strongly. In September, he promised to remove any force that tried to stop Zuma from becoming president of South Africa.
Before the 2009 general election, Malema was asked to become a Member of Parliament. He said no, believing Parliament was "for old people." However, he actively campaigned for the ANC and Zuma. After Zuma became president in May 2009, Malema continued to support him. However, their relationship changed by mid-2010. Malema later said he felt Zuma was not following the left-wing policies he had promised.
Disciplinary actions: 2010
In April 2010, Jacob Zuma spoke about some of Malema's controversial actions. Zuma said that Malema's actions were "alien to the ANC." He also said that the Youth League must follow the ANC's rules. This was a turning point in their relationship.
After Zuma's comments, Malema remained firm in his views. The ANC then announced that Malema would face formal internal disciplinary procedures. These charges were about his public comments and other actions. The case was handled by the ANC's National Disciplinary Committee.
Agreement
In May 2010, Malema reached an agreement with the committee. He had to pay a fine of R10,000 to a youth project. He also had to attend anger management classes and the ANC's political school. He had to make a public apology to Zuma and the ANC. Most of the charges against him were dropped. However, he was found guilty of causing division within the ANC. The committee ruled that if he repeated this offense within two years, his ANC membership would be suspended.
Political views
Caster Semenya's situation
In 2009, Malema strongly defended South African runner Caster Semenya. This was during a debate about Semenya's gender after the 2009 World Athletics Championships. Malema said that actions taken to protect Semenya were correct.
In October 2009, Malema warned Nedbank that he would "mobilise society" if they did not continue sponsoring Athletics South Africa (ASA). He suggested this was linked to ASA's support for Semenya.
Nationalisation and land issues
Malema strongly supports the idea of the government taking control of South African mines. He first called for this in July 2009. He believes that the Freedom Charter supports this idea. Even though the ANC and President Zuma said this was not their policy, Malema continued to speak about it.
He also believes that land should be taken without paying for it. He said that white South Africans had "stolen land." He called for land to be given back without payment. In April 2010, Malema visited Venezuela to learn about their nationalisation programs.
In early 2010, Malema encouraged ANC Youth League members to join the South African National Defence Force. He said there were plans for the Youth League leaders to join a reservist program. Military training was confirmed in May 2010.
Re-election: June 2011
As his first term ended, Malema was expected to face a challenge for re-election. However, at the Youth League's national meeting in Midrand on 17 June 2011, Malema was re-elected as president. He ran unopposed. Ronald Lamola became the new deputy president.
Leaving the ANC: 2011–2012
Botswana comments
On 31 July 2011, Malema made controversial comments about Botswana. He called the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) "a foot stool of imperialism." He also said the Youth League planned to help Botswana's opposition parties. He also criticized the South African government's leadership in Africa.
Disciplinary process
Malema and the Youth League later withdrew the statement about Botswana. However, the ANC decided that Malema had gone too far. On 22 August 2011, the ANC announced that Malema would face internal disciplinary proceedings. He was charged with bringing the ANC into disrepute. Other Youth League leaders were also charged.
When the hearing started on 30 August 2011, a rally of Malema's supporters became violent. Some supporters broke through police barriers and threw objects. The police used water cannons and mace to control the crowd. Malema asked the crowd to be calm.
Outcome and appeals
On 10 November, the ANC National Disciplinary Committee found Malema guilty. They said his comments about Botswana were "reckless and baseless." They also said his remarks had "damaged the standing of the ANC and South Africa's international reputation." As a result, Malema was suspended from the ANC for five years. He also had to leave his position as president of the ANC Youth League.
Malema said he would appeal the decision. He felt the process was politically motivated. On 4 February 2012, his appeal was rejected. The committee then decided to expel him from the party entirely. They said he had not shown regret and refused to accept the ANC's decisions. On 24 April 2012, his expulsion was confirmed after all appeals were exhausted.
Economic Freedom Fighters
After leaving the ANC, Malema spoke out about the Marikana massacre in August 2012. He called for Zuma to resign. He also made controversial comments during a visit to Zimbabwe in October 2012. He said that white people in Africa had taken resources from indigenous people.
Starting the Economic Freedom Fighters
In June 2013, Malema began to gather support for his new political party, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF). President Jacob Zuma said that the ruling party did not see this new party as a threat.
At the party's first national meeting in Bloemfontein in December 2014, Malema was elected as president of the EFF. He ran unopposed. Floyd Shivambu, who also left the ANC Youth League with Malema, was elected as his deputy. Both Malema and Shivambu were re-elected without opposition in December 2019.
Member of Parliament: 2014–2022
In the 2014 general election, less than a year after it started, the EFF won 25 seats in the National Assembly. Malema became a Member of the National Assembly on 21 May 2014. He was re-elected in the 2019 general election. He has served on various committees in Parliament.
Malema has been asked to leave Parliament several times. In June 2014, he was removed from a debate after refusing to take back a statement. He and other EFF members were also removed from Zuma's 2015 State of the Nation address. This happened after they insisted on questioning Zuma about a scandal. Malema was also removed during Zuma's State of the Nation addresses in 2016 and 2017.
Personal life
Malema married his long-time girlfriend in a private ceremony in his hometown of Seshego in 2014. Their first son, Munzhedzi, was born in 2016. Their second son, Kopano, was born in 2018. Malema also has an older son named Ratanang from a previous relationship.
Images for kids
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Young people in Johannesburg wearing t-shirts with Malema's face, December 2010
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Malema in ANC Youth League clothing, September 2011
See also
In Spanish: Julius Malema para niños
