Top 10 Remarkable Facts About Julius Malema

Julius Malema. Photo by Gary van der Merwe. Wikimedia Commons

Top 10 Remarkable Facts about Julius Malema

Julius Malema is a South African politician and activist. He was born on 3rd March 1981 in Seshego in Limpopo, South Africa. He was raised by his mother and grandmother. His mother’s name is Flora Mahlodi Malema.

He was raised by a single mother who was a domestic worker. However, his mother managed to take him through school as he found passion in politics.

He was involved in politics at a very young age. He joined African National Congress at the age of nine where he was tasked to remove National party posters.

Below are the top ten remarkable facts about Julius Malema

1. He has Gradually Advanced his Educational Status

Malema began his early education in Seshego, Limpopo from Mohlakaneng High School. He joined the University of South Africa (UNISA) where he completed a two-year diploma in youth development in 2010.

The following year, he enrolled for a degree in Bachelor of Arts in Communications and African Languages at the same university where he graduated in march 2016. He also managed to obtain a Bachelor of Honours in Philosophy from the University of South Africa in 2017.

He then moved to the University of the Witwatersrand to pursue his Master’s degree.

2. Julius Malema had an Exceptional Early Political Career

Julius Malema. Photo by Gary van der Merwe. Wikimedia Common

Julius Malema began his political career at the age of nine. He joined the African National Congress where he was tasked to remove National Party posters.

In 1995 he was elected the Chair of Youth League in the Seshego branch and the region. He became the chairman of the Congress of South Africa Students (COSAS) for the Limpopo province in 1997.

In 2001 he was elected as the national president of that organization. While he was the Chairman in 2002, he led a COSAS match by pupils through Johannesburg which erupted in incidents of violence and looting.

3. He served as the President of the African National Congress Youth League

In April 2009, Malema was elected as the president of the African National Congress where he got 1,833 votes against Saki Mofokeng who received 1,696 votes. However, it was characterized by mass fraud and intimidation. Malema later described the elections as “Unbecoming Conduct.

As the president of ANC, he gathered support for Zuma in the 2009 presidential elections. Malema Claimed that they were prepared to take up arms and kill for Zuma. His statement was greatly condemned by politicians and South Africans alike.

The opposition questioned Zuma for failing to reprimand Malema for his statements which could trigger wars at the time.

However, Malema was re-elected as the chair of the African National Congress Youth League for a second term on the 17th of June 2011. He was unopposed in his second election where the only opposing nominee declined the nomination.

4. He Threatened to Mobilise People to Withdraw their Nedbank Accounts

Julius Malema t-shirts. Photo by Hedman . Wikimedia Common

Malema threatened to mobilize people to withdraw their accounts from Nedbank in September 2009. He claimed that the bank had decided to withdraw its sponsorship from Athletics South Africa (ASA).

He suggested that bank withdrawal was a result of the current controversy around Leonard Chuene who was the President of ASA. However, the bank argued that the decision to withdraw was reached after dissatisfaction with the delivery of previous events.

The controversy was about the gender test for an athlete, Caster Semenya, who is intersex and the president had neglected to withdraw her from the World Championship in which she won a gold medal.

5. Malema Faced Disciplinary Procedures for bringing Disrepute between ANC and Government

Malema faced disciplinary procedures on the 18th of April 2010. He faced disciplinary for bringing disrepute between the ANC and the government where he was charged with several related charges.

He was charged for comparison of Thabo Mbeki and Zuma. This was after Zuma called a press conference reprimanding Malema. He was also charged for endorsing Robert Mugabe’s party when he visited Zimbabwe at the time when Zuma was negotiating for settlement in the country.

Some of the charges were dropped as he pleaded guilty to criticizing Zuma. However, he was asked to apologize publicly and was warned of suspension from the ANC if he re-offended for two years.

6. He Formed his Political Party “Economic Freedom Fighters”

A small march by the EFF on Mandela Day (18 July). Photo by Discott. Wikimedia Commons

Malema canvassed his political party in June 2013 giving it the name Economic Freedom Fighters. At the time Jacob Zuma was the president and was in the ruling party.

However, Zuma stated that the formation of a party by Malema was not a threat to the ruling party at a meeting with SA National Forum. In the 2014 general elections, his party gunned up twenty-five seats in the national assembly.

7. Julius Malema was Dismissed from the National Assembly

Malema was elected to the parliament during the 2014 general elections. He was sworn into the national assembly on the 21st of May 2014.

However, he was dismissed on the 19th of June 2014 after he refused to withdraw a remark that he had made in the same month. Malema had accused the ANC government of murdering the miners who were involved in the Marikana miners’ strike.

8. He was charged with fraud, Corruption, and Money Laundering

In September 2012, a warrant was issued for Malema’s arrest for charges of money laundering, corruption, and fraud which were concerning government contracts. The warrant of arrest was issued after investigations following a tender award in 2010 to EduSolutions, which distributed textbooks to students in Limpopo.

9. Malema Married his Long-Time Girlfriend in a Private Ceremony

Photo by Drew Coffman on Unsplash

Malema married his long-term girlfriend in a private ceremony that was conducted in his hometown Seshego. He married in the year 2014 and the ceremony was heavily guarded with tight security.

His first son Munzhedzi was born in 2016 and their second son Kapono was born in 2018. Malema also has another son called Ratanang from his previous relationship with Maropeng Ramohlale.

10. His Grandmother Died on the eve of the Economic Freedom Fighters’ Final Rally

His grandmother, Koko Sarah, was tasked to raise him after the death of his mother. She died on the 4th of May 2019 which was the eve of the Economic Freedom Fighters’ final rally that was ahead of the South African General Elections. She died after a short illness.

Julius Malema is a well-known Politian in South Africa. He is recognized internationally for his outspoken nature and the spirit to fight for what he believes in.