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Julius Malema, A short Biography of the future of South African Politics

Julius Sello Malema (born 3 March 1981, in Seshego) is a South African politician, and the president of the African National Congress Youth League. He is best known for his controversial statements and speeches, and intense support for African National Congress president Jacob Zuma.

Early life and career

Malema, a Pedi, was raised by a single mother, a domestic worker in Seshego township, Limpopo. According to varying reports he joined the Masupatsela (”Trailblazers”) pioneer movement of the African National Congress at age nine, where, according to Malema, their main task was to remove National Party posters placed outside police stations[4]. Most reports agree that he was receiving military training by the age of 14, which is when he joined the ANC Youth League; according to Malema himself he was receiving training in the handling of firearms by age 13.

Education

His school career was undistinguished and he failed two high school grades as well as several subjects in his final secondary school examination. In fact, his marks were so low that they later attracted significant media attention. His highest mark attained at school was reported as a “C” for second language English and his lowest marks were published as an “H” (sub 33%) in maths and a “G” (sub 40%) in woodwork, all in the standard grade. The ANCYL dismissed the published marks as “fake”, but declined to confirm what his “real” marks might have been. The South African Department of Education later confirmed the legitimacy of the much publicized results. He said he won R1000 in a high school debating competition.[8] He eventually finished high school at age 21.

At a rally in Feb 2009 however, he said young people must admire educated people, not criminals.

Recent Personal Life

He is single. He says he owns a house in Polokwane, but rents a house in Johannesburg. “It shows leadership to own a house.” He says he has an “ordinary car.” He calls his grandmother every day.

Recent political career

Malema was elected as both chairman of the Youth League branch in Seshego and the regional chairman in 1995. In 1997 he became the chairman of the Congress of South African Students (Cosas) for the Limpopo province, and in 2001 he was elected as the national president of that organisation.

Malema was elected as the president of the ANC Youth League in April 2008, in a close race at a national conference held in Bloemfontein. The election – and the conference – was characterised by what Malema himself later described as “unbecoming conduct”. Allegations of irregularities in the polling procedure saw the conference adjourned shortly after the election results were announced. It was resumed only in late June, when Malema’s election was officially accepted. He is completely uneducated.

He mentioned in an interview on 702 that he will go to parliament only when he is “a shiny polished diamond.”

He was “booted” out of Port Elizabeth’s Dora Nginza Hospital after the head of the hospital spotted him and 20 other ANC members campaigning in the wards for the April 2009 election.

Malema told students at Walter Sisulu University, in East London, that his role in making controversial statements was that of a decoy, to “distract” the opposition while Zuma “sprinted to the Union Buildings”.

Depiction in mainstream media

Malema is known for his controversial statements and has become a frequent target for lampooning.

Popular Sunday Times satirical columnist Hogarth always calls him the “Jelly Totsi,” after “Jelly Tots” sweets. Hogarth often also refers to him as a “Mampara,” or buffoon.

Cartoonist Zapiro frequently draws him dressed in diapers.

In January 2009, a well known South African prank caller, Whackhead Simpson, aired a prank call that he recorded on Gauteng radio station, 94.7 Highveld Stereo. Whackhead used sound clips from various speeches of Barack Obama to hold a “conversation[1]” with Julius Malema. Afterwards, Julius Malema denied ever speaking to Barack Obama. He also said that he was unaware of any prank call.

During the year, Malema was also allegedly protrayed in an advertisement by Nandos.

Controversial statements

Support for ANC leaders under criminal investigation

In 2003, as head of Cosas, Malema said in a statement that the student union would do anything, including “burning the prison she is locked in”, to prevent the jailing of Winnie Madikizela-Mandela.

In June 2008, Malema made international headlines by vowing that the Youth League would take up arms if the prosecution of Jacob Zuma for alleged fraud and corruption continued. In an address to a Youth Day rally in Thaba Nchu, where Zuma was in attendance, Malema said, “Let us make it clear now: we are prepared to die for Zuma. Not only that, we are prepared to take up arms and kill for Zuma.” The remark drew widespread condemnation and complaints. The ANC partially distanced itself from the statement the following day, former Archbishop Desmond Tutu called on Malema to apologise, and complaints were laid with the South African Human Rights Commission by several opposition political parties, the General Council of the Bar of South Africa and individuals. The complaints were settled by an agreement between Malema and the Commission, facilitated by Madikizela-Mandela, that he would never use the word “kill” in a public statement again. Official opposition party the Democratic Alliance said it would continue to insist that Malema be criminally prosecuted, for incitement to commit a crime, despite the agreement.

In February 2009, Malema stated the following regarding Zuma’s corruption charges: “If he is so corrupt and he must be punished, let the voters do that [...]. Why do you want to subject him to the hands of the few, the judiciary, the judges and the media? Leave it to the voters, 23,000,000 must decide whether Zuma becomes president or not — not the judges”. He has also been quoted as declaring that, “If you arrest him, he will lead us from prison. We are not afraid to be led by a president in orange clothes.”

Remarks about women

In January 2009, he suggested to a group of Capetonian students that the woman who accused ANC president Jacob Zuma of rape had a “nice time” with him because in the morning she had “requested breakfast and taxi money“. Public and media reaction was severe, Cape Times columnist John Scott suggesting facetiously that Malema be elected to parliament: “Young Julius has views about females that should not just be restricted to university campuses and other platforms where women don’t have the right of immediate reply.”

Of ritual circumcision, he indicated that this is not the purview of women since “women are not allowed to speak about it.”

Of marriage: “Beautiful girls are found in the ANC. If you want to get married, you must choose to get married in the ANC.”

Statements concerning ANC members