Julius Malema is a South African political activist and the president of the African National Congress Youth League. He is best known for his controversial statements and speeches.
Early life and career
Malema was raised by a single mother, a domestic worker[1] in Seshego, Limpopo.[2] According to varying reports he joined the Mashupatsela programme of the African National Congress at age nine[3], age ten[4] or age 14[5], although reports agree that he was receiving military training by the age of 14, which is when he joined the ANC Youth League..
His school career was undistinguished and he failed two high school grades.[6]
Malema was elected as both chairman of the Youth League branch in Seshego and the regional chairman in 1995.[7]
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.[8]
Youth League election
Malema was elected as the president of the Youth League in April 2008, in a close race at a national conference held in Bloemfontein.[9] The election – and the conference – was characterised by what Malema himself later described as "unbecoming conduct".[10] Allegations of irregularities in the polling procedure saw the conference adjourned shortly after the election results were announced.[11] It was resumed only in late June, when Malema's election was officially accepted.[12]
Controversial statements
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.[13]
In June 2008 Malema made international headlines by apparently vowing that the Youth League would take up arms if Jacob Zuma continues to be prosecuted for alleged fraud and corruption. 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."[14]
The remark drew widespread condemnation and complaints. The ANC partially distanced itself from the statement the following day[15], former Archbishop Desmond Tutu called on Malema to apologise[16] 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.[17]
The complaints were settled by an agreement between Malema and the Commission – facilitated by Winnia Madikizela-Mandela – that he would never use the word "kill" in a public statement again.[18] Official opposition party the Democratic Alliance (South Africa) said it would continue to insist that Malema be criminally prosecuted, for incitement to commit a crime, despite the agreement.[19]
The Democratic Alliance subsequently requested another Human Rights Commission investigation, saying Malema had failed to live up to the agreement. In a speech prepared for delivery at a funeral, Malema said: "We must also intensify the struggle to eliminate the remnants of counter-revolution, which include the DA and a loose coalition of those who want to use state power to block the ANC president's ascendancy to the highest office of the land." [20]
In a statement on 4 August 2008, Helen Zille, the leader of the DA, said: "The discourse surrounding Zuma's trial has shifted rapidly from the menacing rhetoric perpetrated by Julius Malema and others, to an all-out declaration of war by former soldiers. This is effectively a promise of a military coup if the courts find against Zuma".
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