Julius Malema
Encyclopedia
Julius Sello Malema is a South Africa
n politician, and the former president of the African National Congress Youth League
. Malema occupies a notably controversial position in South African public and political life; having risen to prominence with his support for African National Congress
president, and later President of South Africa
, Jacob Zuma
. He has been described by both Zuma and the Premier
of Limpopo Province as the "future leader" of South Africa. Less favourable portraits paint him as a "reckless populist
" with the potential to destabilise South Africa and to spark racial conflict. He was convicted of hate speech
in March 2010 and again in September 2011. In November 2011 he was found guilty of sowing divisions within the ANC and, in conjunction with his 2 year suspended sentence in May 2010, was suspended from the party for 5 years compelling him to give up his position as ANC Youth League president.
, was born in Seshego
. His mother was a domestic worker and a single parent. He joined the African National Congress
's Masupatsela at the age of nine or ten whose main task was to illegally remove National Party
posters.
(UNISA). He is currently enrolled at UNISA for a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications and African languages.
province, and was elected as the national president of that organisation in 2001. In 2002, Malema led a Cosas march by school pupils, through the streets of Johannesburg that was marred by incidents of violence and looting.
, in what was described as a visit on indigenisation
. He was expected to meet Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe
. Upon landing in Harare
, Malema was greeted by Zanu-PF supporters as well as Zimbabwe's Youth and Indigenization Minister Saviour Kasukuwere, and ZANU-PF Youth Chairman Absolom Sikhosana, as well as Zimbabwean business figures who had risen to prominence in recent years. Morgan Tsvangirai
, Zimbabwean Prime Minister
, condemned Malema's visit, after Malema criticised Tsvangirai's party, the Movement for Democratic Change
(MDC). During the visit, he described Tsvangirai as an ally of "imperialists", and called for the Zimbabwe-style seizure of mines and farms in South Africa (see below). Youth organisations in Zimbabwe criticised Malema's visit, citing his controversial racial statements and alleged corruption. Malema's comments during the visit sparked fears that South Africa would follow Zimbabwe's chaotic land reform example. Malema also blamed the MDC for introducing political violence to Zimbabwe, and defended Robert Mugabe's political and human rights record.
On Malema's return from Zimbabwe, the ANC Youth league released a statement praising Mugabe and Zimbabwe's land seizures. It also called on South Africa's youth to follow the example of young people in Zimbabwe, and to engage in agriculture in order to reduce their dependence on white farmers. Malema's support within the ANC Youth League remains strong, although no longer monolithic.
Malema's visit came while President Jacob Zuma was trying to broker a political settlement in Zimbabwe, and reportedly caused concern among ANC officials, but Zuma himself blessed the visit. The ANC, however, in a later statement distanced itself from the ANC Youth League's electoral support of ZANU-PF.
journalist Jonah Fisher
commented that Malema himself lived in Sandton. Malema lashed out at Fisher, after Fisher described Malema's comments as rubbish. Malema was unapologetic about his actions, and accused Fisher of being disrespectful, and of coming from a country [the UK
] which undermined the credibility and integrity of African leaders. After the incident Malema said he expected an apology from Fisher However, the next day, the ANC issued a statement condemning Malema's actions during the news conference. On 10 April 2010, at a Durban news conference, where he characterised Malema's conduct as "alien to the ANC", President Jacob Zuma publicly criticised Malema's behaviour saying that "the manner in which a BBC journalist was treated at an ANC Youth League press conference is regrettable and unacceptable, regardless of any alleged provocation on his part", and said that he had spoken to Malema about his conduct by telephone. Malema remained defiant after Zuma's rebuke.
On 11 May 2010, Malema entered into a plea bargain
, and three of the charges against him were dropped (the attack on the BBC journalist, his endorsement of Mugabe, and his singing of "shoot the Boer" after it was banned). He pleaded guilty to criticising Zuma after Zuma publicly censured him, and was ordered by the disciplinary committee to make a public apology for his conduct, fined R10 000 to be donated to a youth development project, and to attend anger management classes. He was also warned of suspension from the ANC if he re-offended within two years. Malema complied, apologising "unconditionally", stating that he accepted that his "conduct and public utterances should at all times reflect respect and restraint".
. Although the ANC, including Mining Minister Susan Shabangu
, and president Jacob Zuma made it clear that this was not ANC policy, Malema continued to advocate this position. Malema's opinions on nationalisation are not shared by South Africa's large National Union of Mineworkers
(NUM), which stated that it is against the nationalisation of South Africa's mines . At a public meeting at the University of Western Cape, Malema asked: "Why should we pay for our land?". He then advocated the return of land without compensation and the removal of the "willing buyer, willing seller" principle. At a June 16 Youth Day celebration, Malema accused whites of "stealing land" and again advocated for the redistribution of land without compensation.
In April 2010 Malema led a youth delegation to Venezuela
to study that country's nationalisation programme.
In an apparent effort to reach the new youth, Malema also began visiting schools. These visits were criticised by Deputy President of South Africa
, and of the ANC, Kgalema Motlanthe for being disruptive to education.
In early 2010, Malema urged ANC Youth League members to join the South African National Defence Force
, and said that there were plans for the Youth League leadership to join the reservist programme. The military training was confirmed in May 2010, with the naval
training due to commence in September 2010.
In March 2010, in what was widely held to be a rebuke of Malema, the ANC's National Executive Committee (NEC) lashed out at the "new culture of public feuds, insults and personal attacks" and adopted a policy of disciplining those who became involved in public disputes with members of the governing ANC-SACP-COSATU alliance.
Malema's bid for a second term as Youth League president received a boost in 2010 when a number of Eastern Cape
ANC Youth League regional conferences in the Eastern Cape elected candidates remained loyal to him, although there were some allegations of irregularities from Malema's opponents. In Malema's home province, Limpopo, a fiercely contested race for the Youth League presidency had been expected. The Limpopo meeting experienced vigorous discussion, on occasion degenerating into violence. Malema's rivals and journalists were reportedly ejected by police, at the behest of Malema.
Julius Malema brought an application to have all charges against him quashed. The ANC's National Disciplinary Committee met on the 31st August 2011 and 1 September to deliberate on this application. The ruling was delivered at 09h00 on the 2 September 2011. The NDC dismissed Julius Malema’s application to have the charges quashed.
On 10 November 2011, ANC Youth League leader Julius Malema was found guilty of provoking divisions within the ruling party and of bringing the organisation into disrepute, and was suspended for five years. He will vacate his position.
, which is the early emergence of a form of kleptocracy
, or predatory behaviour by a clique in the ruling elite, to generate personal wealth by capturing resources.
In March 2010, addressing the allegations at a rally at a university campus, Malema, sang the struggle song "shoot the Boer
" (see below), and lashed out at opposition politicians. He also attacked COSATU general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi
.
In August 2010, the Public Protector released a report which cleared Malema of involvement in state tenders in Limpopo. This was received with scepticism by some.
In response, a large group of political journalists complained to various authorities within the ANC and to the South African National Editors' Forum (SANEF) stating that they viewed the release as an attempt to intimidate them into not publishing further stories, and as a threat to media freedom. They further questioned how a political organisation obtained sensitive personal information without breaking the law. The Sowetan newspaper, in an editorial, called the steps to silence journalists "tyrannical", and accused the ANC Youth league of exploiting its closeness to "state and institutional power", to intimidate journalists who wrote about Malema. SANEF also released a statement supporting the journalists.
Malema then issued a statement that the ANCYL would continue to expose journalists.
Malema has since denied all wrong-doing, whilst various investigations continue.
by the Equality Court, fined R50 000 and ordered to apologise unconditionally, following a 2009 incident when he told a group of Cape Town
students at a South African Students' Congress (SASCO) meeting 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" Following the conviction SASCO expressed "delight" at the ruling and attacked Malema for the "gratuitous abuse" of the platform that SASCO granted him
" (Dubul' ibhunu) from the anti-apartheid song Ayasab' amagwala (the cowards are scared) ("Boer" is the Afrikaans word for "farmer", but is also used as a derogatory term for any white person). His singing was compared to similar chants by deceased Youth League leader Peter Mokaba
in the early 1990s, to "kill the boer", which had previously been defined as hate speech
by the South African Human Rights Commission
.
Malema's singing of the song led to a barrage of complaints against him, both to the police, and to the commission.
The ANC said "We wouldn't appreciate any statements against any member of our society, including whites... they are also South Africans", however, it "had not taken a decision in the matter".
The Southern Gauteng High Court ruled on 26 March 2010 that Malema's song (which he had continued singing at public gatherings ) was "unconstitutional and unlawful", and that any person singing it could face charges of incitement to murder, stating that the song called for the killing of the "farmer/white man", however, the ANC defended the song. The ANC announced it would appeal the ruling. The Northern Gauteng High Court, on 1 April 2010 then granted an interdict
preventing Malema from publicly uttering the words of this or any other song which could be considered to be instigating violence, distrust and/or hatred between black and white citizens in the Republic of South Africa" until the matter was heard by the Equality Court, to which the case was referred by the presiding judge.
In the aftermath of Eugène Terre'Blanche
's April 2010 murder, senior leaders of the ANC temporarily banned the singing of the song, amid concerns that struggle songs were being used to "scapegoat" the ANC and to further racial hatred, and because of concerns that ANC leaders who continued singing the songs may have been in contempt of the court orders banning the singing of the song.
President Jacob Zuma, at a 10 April 2010 news conference said Malema was "totally out of order" for ignoring ANC instructions to obey the court order banning the singing the song. Zuma emphasised the constitutional role of the judiciary and the rule of law, and also said that the role of the judiciary "as the final arbiter in disputes" had to be respected, and that defiance of the proper procedures in place to challenge judicial rulings, made a "mockery of the judicial system" and "should not be tolerated".
figures such as Winnie Madikizela-Mandela
and secretary-general Gwede Mantashe
threw their weight behind him in the court battle. Aggressive and patronizing questioning of black witnesses by lawyers for the Afrikaner
groups bringing the suit reportedly allowed Malema to portray himself a victim of Afrikaner persecution.
On 12 September 2011, Malema was found guilty of hate speech.
, an international organization which monitors countries for signs of genocidal behavior, upgraded South Africa to Stage 6 "Preparation" on the Countries at Risk Chart until Julius Malema is removed from a position of power because of "his attempts to incite racial hatred in the land."
and Jeremy Nell
frequently drew him dressed in nappies. Some analysts depict him as an orator, with a broad appeal in the young, poor, and disadvantaged black electorate. More recently, as Malema's public profile has grown, he has been described by critics in the media as a "demagogue". He was listed in Time (magazine)
s Least Influential People of 2010, whilst conversely Forbes Magazine named him as one of the "10 Youngest Power Men In Africa" in September 2011.
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n politician, and the former president of the African National Congress Youth League
African National Congress Youth League
The African National Congress Youth League is the youth wing of the African National Congress.-Foundation:Its foundation in 1944 by Nick Gombart, Ashley Peter Mda, Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu and Oliver Tambo marked the rise of a new generation of leadership of South Africa's black African...
. Malema occupies a notably controversial position in South African public and political life; having risen to prominence with his support for African National Congress
African National Congress
The African National Congress is South Africa's governing Africanist political party, supported by its tripartite alliance with the Congress of South African Trade Unions and the South African Communist Party , since the establishment of non-racial democracy in April 1994. It defines itself as a...
president, and later President of South Africa
President of South Africa
The President of the Republic of South Africa is the head of state and head of government under South Africa's Constitution. From 1961 to 1994, the head of state was called the State President....
, Jacob Zuma
Jacob Zuma
Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma is the President of South Africa, elected by parliament following his party's victory in the 2009 general election....
. He has been described by both Zuma and the Premier
Premier (South Africa)
In South Africa, a Premier is the head of government of one of South Africa's nine provinces. The Premier of a province plays for that province a role similar to that played by the President for the country as a whole.-Election:...
of Limpopo Province as the "future leader" of South Africa. Less favourable portraits paint him as a "reckless populist
Populism
Populism can be defined as an ideology, political philosophy, or type of discourse. Generally, a common theme compares "the people" against "the elite", and urges social and political system changes. It can also be defined as a rhetorical style employed by members of various political or social...
" with the potential to destabilise South Africa and to spark racial conflict. He was convicted of hate speech
Hate speech
Hate speech is, outside the law, any communication that disparages a person or a group on the basis of some characteristic such as race, color, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, nationality, religion, or other characteristic....
in March 2010 and again in September 2011. In November 2011 he was found guilty of sowing divisions within the ANC and, in conjunction with his 2 year suspended sentence in May 2010, was suspended from the party for 5 years compelling him to give up his position as ANC Youth League president.
Early life and career
Malema, a PediPedi people
Pedi, , has been a cultural/linguistic term. It was previously used to describe the entire set of people speaking various dialects of the Sotho language who live in the northern Transvaal of South Africa...
, was born in Seshego
Seshego
Seshego is a town in the Limpopo province of South Africa. The town lies directly northwest of Polokwane. In 2001 its population was 121,639. Until 1974 Seshego was the capital of the non-independent bantustan of Lebowa, which was abolished in 1994...
. His mother was a domestic worker and a single parent. He joined the African National Congress
African National Congress
The African National Congress is South Africa's governing Africanist political party, supported by its tripartite alliance with the Congress of South African Trade Unions and the South African Communist Party , since the establishment of non-racial democracy in April 1994. It defines itself as a...
's Masupatsela at the age of nine or ten whose main task was to illegally remove National Party
National Party (South Africa)
The National Party is a former political party in South Africa. Founded in 1914, it was the governing party of the country from 4 June 1948 until 9 May 1994. Members of the National Party were sometimes known as Nationalists or Nats. Its policies included apartheid, the establishment of a...
posters.
Education
Malema took longer than usual to complete secondary school, graduating at the age of 21 from Mohlakaneng High School in Seshego, Limpopo; he failed most of his subjects. In 2010, Malema completed a two-year diploma in youth development through University of South AfricaUniversity of South Africa
The University of South Africa is a distance education university, with headquarters in Pretoria, South Africa. With approximately 300 000 enrolled students, it qualifies as one of the world's mega universities.-History:...
(UNISA). He is currently enrolled at UNISA for a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications and African languages.
Early political career
Malema was elected a 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 LimpopoLimpopo
Limpopo is the northernmost province of South Africa. The capital is Polokwane, formerly named Pietersburg. The province was formed from the northern region of Transvaal Province in 1994, and initially named Northern Transvaal...
province, and was elected as the national president of that organisation in 2001. In 2002, Malema led a Cosas march by school pupils, through the streets of Johannesburg that was marred by incidents of violence and looting.
Election as leader of ANC Youth League
Malema was elected as the president of the ANC Youth League in April 2008. The election – and the conference – were characterised by what Malema himself later described as "unbecoming conduct". The integrity of his election has been criticised and questioned. He was later re-elected unopposed for a second term on 17 June 2011 at Gallagher Estate in Midrand when Lebogang Maile, the only opposing nomination, declined the nomination.April 2010 Zimbabwe visit
In 3 April 2010, Malema visited ZimbabweZimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
, in what was described as a visit on indigenisation
Indigenization
In anthropological terms, to "indigenize" means to force local cultures to adopt another. Most changes in original culture occur when western corporations impose their products on other economies, Westernizing. Some forms of indigenizing include: Spray painting slogans on bill-boards, interpreting...
. He was expected to meet Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe
Robert Mugabe
Robert Gabriel Mugabe is the President of Zimbabwe. As one of the leaders of the liberation movement against white-minority rule, he was elected into power in 1980...
. Upon landing in Harare
Harare
Harare before 1982 known as Salisbury) is the largest city and capital of Zimbabwe. It has an estimated population of 1,600,000, with 2,800,000 in its metropolitan area . Administratively, Harare is an independent city equivalent to a province. It is Zimbabwe's largest city and its...
, Malema was greeted by Zanu-PF supporters as well as Zimbabwe's Youth and Indigenization Minister Saviour Kasukuwere, and ZANU-PF Youth Chairman Absolom Sikhosana, as well as Zimbabwean business figures who had risen to prominence in recent years. Morgan Tsvangirai
Morgan Tsvangirai
Morgan Richard Tsvangirai is the Prime Minister of Zimbabwe. He is the President of the Movement for Democratic Change - Tsvangirai and a key figure in the opposition to President Robert Mugabe. Tsvangirai was sworn in as the Prime Minister of Zimbabwe on 11 February 2009...
, Zimbabwean Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Zimbabwe
The Prime Minister of Zimbabwe is the head of government in Zimbabwe. From 1980 to 1987, Robert Mugabe was the first person to hold the position following independence from the United Kingdom. He took office when Rhodesia became the Republic of Zimbabwe on 18 April 1980...
, condemned Malema's visit, after Malema criticised Tsvangirai's party, the Movement for Democratic Change
Movement for Democratic Change – Tsvangirai
The Movement for Democratic Change Zimbabwe is a political party and the largest party in the House of Assembly of Zimbabwe. It is the main formation formed from the split of the original Movement for Democratic Change in 2005.-Foundation:...
(MDC). During the visit, he described Tsvangirai as an ally of "imperialists", and called for the Zimbabwe-style seizure of mines and farms in South Africa (see below). Youth organisations in Zimbabwe criticised Malema's visit, citing his controversial racial statements and alleged corruption. Malema's comments during the visit sparked fears that South Africa would follow Zimbabwe's chaotic land reform example. Malema also blamed the MDC for introducing political violence to Zimbabwe, and defended Robert Mugabe's political and human rights record.
On Malema's return from Zimbabwe, the ANC Youth league released a statement praising Mugabe and Zimbabwe's land seizures. It also called on South Africa's youth to follow the example of young people in Zimbabwe, and to engage in agriculture in order to reduce their dependence on white farmers. Malema's support within the ANC Youth League remains strong, although no longer monolithic.
Malema's visit came while President Jacob Zuma was trying to broker a political settlement in Zimbabwe, and reportedly caused concern among ANC officials, but Zuma himself blessed the visit. The ANC, however, in a later statement distanced itself from the ANC Youth League's electoral support of ZANU-PF.
Incident involving BBC journalist
On 8 April 2010, at a Johannesburg media briefing covering his visit to Zimbabwe, Malema was involved in a racial abuse incident with Jonah Fisher, a BBC journalist. Malema had been criticising the Movement for Democratic Change for having offices in affluent Sandton, when BBCBBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
journalist Jonah Fisher
Jonah Fisher
Jonah Fisher is a correspondent on both BBC television news and BBC Radio Five Live. He has worked in the far east with Greenpeace tracking whales being hunted by the Japanese whaling fleet; and in 2005 he was beaten by Sudanese security forces outside Khartoum, Sudan.-ANC Outburst:Following a...
commented that Malema himself lived in Sandton. Malema lashed out at Fisher, after Fisher described Malema's comments as rubbish. Malema was unapologetic about his actions, and accused Fisher of being disrespectful, and of coming from a country [the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
] which undermined the credibility and integrity of African leaders. After the incident Malema said he expected an apology from Fisher However, the next day, the ANC issued a statement condemning Malema's actions during the news conference. On 10 April 2010, at a Durban news conference, where he characterised Malema's conduct as "alien to the ANC", President Jacob Zuma publicly criticised Malema's behaviour saying that "the manner in which a BBC journalist was treated at an ANC Youth League press conference is regrettable and unacceptable, regardless of any alleged provocation on his part", and said that he had spoken to Malema about his conduct by telephone. Malema remained defiant after Zuma's rebuke.
Disciplinary procedures by ANC
On 18 April 2010, it was reported that Malema faced disciplinary procedures by the ANC for bringing it and the government into disrepute. The charges related to his endorsement of Robert Mugabe's ZANU-PF party during his visit to Zimbabwe, when President Jacob Zuma was trying to broker a negotiated settlement in the country, a controversial incident involving a BBC journalist, his comments on the murder of Eugène Terre'Blanche, and unfavorably comparing Zuma to his predecessor Thabo Mbeki, after Zuma called a press conference reprimanding Malema. Julius Malema faced a "hostile" disciplinary committee on 3 May 2010.On 11 May 2010, Malema entered into a plea bargain
Plea bargain
A plea bargain is an agreement in a criminal case whereby the prosecutor offers the defendant the opportunity to plead guilty, usually to a lesser charge or to the original criminal charge with a recommendation of a lighter than the maximum sentence.A plea bargain allows criminal defendants to...
, and three of the charges against him were dropped (the attack on the BBC journalist, his endorsement of Mugabe, and his singing of "shoot the Boer" after it was banned). He pleaded guilty to criticising Zuma after Zuma publicly censured him, and was ordered by the disciplinary committee to make a public apology for his conduct, fined R10 000 to be donated to a youth development project, and to attend anger management classes. He was also warned of suspension from the ANC if he re-offended within two years. Malema complied, apologising "unconditionally", stating that he accepted that his "conduct and public utterances should at all times reflect respect and restraint".
Nationalisation and land redistribution
Malema became a vocal advocate of nationalising South African minesMining in South Africa
Mining in South Africa has been the main driving force behind the history and development of Africa's most advanced and richest economy. Large scale and profitable mining started with the discovery of a diamond on the banks of the Orange River in 1867 by Erasmus Jacobs and the subsequent...
. Although the ANC, including Mining Minister Susan Shabangu
Susan Shabangu
-Controversy:In April 2008 Shabangu, in her role as deputy minister of safety and security, told an audience of police officers to "kill the bastards", referring to criminals. The remark was widely reported...
, and president Jacob Zuma made it clear that this was not ANC policy, Malema continued to advocate this position. Malema's opinions on nationalisation are not shared by South Africa's large National Union of Mineworkers
National Union of Mineworkers
The National Union of Mineworkers is a trade union for coal miners in the United Kingdom. It was formed in 1945 as a reorganisation of the Miners' Federation of Great Britain . For much of the 20th century the NUM was a powerful force not only in the British union movement, but also in British...
(NUM), which stated that it is against the nationalisation of South Africa's mines . At a public meeting at the University of Western Cape, Malema asked: "Why should we pay for our land?". He then advocated the return of land without compensation and the removal of the "willing buyer, willing seller" principle. At a June 16 Youth Day celebration, Malema accused whites of "stealing land" and again advocated for the redistribution of land without compensation.
In April 2010 Malema led a youth delegation to Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
to study that country's nationalisation programme.
Other activities as Youth League president
Malema campaigned enthusiastically for the ANC in the April 2009 elections. However, he was asked to leave Port Elizabeth's Dora Nginza Hospital after the head of the hospital noticed him and 20 other ANC members campaigning in the wards.In an apparent effort to reach the new youth, Malema also began visiting schools. These visits were criticised by Deputy President of South Africa
Deputy President of South Africa
The Deputy President of South Africa is the acting President of South Africa when the President is outside the country's borders, unable to fulfill the duties of the office, or when the Presidency is vacant. The Deputy President is also a member of the National Assembly and the Cabinet...
, and of the ANC, Kgalema Motlanthe for being disruptive to education.
In early 2010, Malema urged ANC Youth League members to join the South African National Defence Force
South African National Defence Force
The South African National Defence Force is the armed forces of South Africa. The military as it exists today was created in 1994, following South Africa's first post-apartheid national elections and the adoption of a new constitution...
, and said that there were plans for the Youth League leadership to join the reservist programme. The military training was confirmed in May 2010, with the naval
South African Navy
The South African Navy is the navy of the Republic of South Africa.-Formation:The South African Navy can trace its official origins back to the SA Naval Service, which was established on 1 April 1922....
training due to commence in September 2010.
In March 2010, in what was widely held to be a rebuke of Malema, the ANC's National Executive Committee (NEC) lashed out at the "new culture of public feuds, insults and personal attacks" and adopted a policy of disciplining those who became involved in public disputes with members of the governing ANC-SACP-COSATU alliance.
Malema's bid for a second term as Youth League president received a boost in 2010 when a number of Eastern Cape
Eastern Cape
The Eastern Cape is a province of South Africa. Its capital is Bhisho, but its two largest cities are Port Elizabeth and East London. It was formed in 1994 out of the "independent" Xhosa homelands of Transkei and Ciskei, together with the eastern portion of the Cape Province...
ANC Youth League regional conferences in the Eastern Cape elected candidates remained loyal to him, although there were some allegations of irregularities from Malema's opponents. In Malema's home province, Limpopo, a fiercely contested race for the Youth League presidency had been expected. The Limpopo meeting experienced vigorous discussion, on occasion degenerating into violence. Malema's rivals and journalists were reportedly ejected by police, at the behest of Malema.
Disciplinary review by ANC
On Aug 30, 2011 Malema was subjected to a disciplinary hearing by the ANC. Malema's supporters held a rally in the center of Johannesburg that turned into a violent confrontation such as the country had not seen since the end of the days of the struggle. Some of the protesters held placards with slogans like "South Africa for blacks only", that caused many disapproving reactions from the black community.Julius Malema brought an application to have all charges against him quashed. The ANC's National Disciplinary Committee met on the 31st August 2011 and 1 September to deliberate on this application. The ruling was delivered at 09h00 on the 2 September 2011. The NDC dismissed Julius Malema’s application to have the charges quashed.
On 10 November 2011, ANC Youth League leader Julius Malema was found guilty of provoking divisions within the ruling party and of bringing the organisation into disrepute, and was suspended for five years. He will vacate his position.
Involvement in state contracts
Reports about Malema's possible involvement in state tenders (contracts) began appearing in November 2009. Questions about his personal lifestyle were raised by the South African media. Some analysts suggest that this is also known as being a tenderpreneurTenderpreneur
Tenderpreneur is a South African term used to describe a government official or politician who uses their powers and influence to secure government tenders and contracts...
, which is the early emergence of a form of kleptocracy
Kleptocracy
Kleptocracy, alternatively cleptocracy or kleptarchy, is a form of political and government corruption where the government exists to increase the personal wealth and political power of its officials and the ruling class at the expense of the wider population, often without pretense of honest...
, or predatory behaviour by a clique in the ruling elite, to generate personal wealth by capturing resources.
In March 2010, addressing the allegations at a rally at a university campus, Malema, sang the struggle song "shoot the Boer
Boer
Boer is the Dutch and Afrikaans word for farmer, which came to denote the descendants of the Dutch-speaking settlers of the eastern Cape frontier in Southern Africa during the 18th century, as well as those who left the Cape Colony during the 19th century to settle in the Orange Free State,...
" (see below), and lashed out at opposition politicians. He also attacked COSATU general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi
Zwelinzima Vavi
Zwelinzima Vavi is General Secretary of Congress of South African Trade Unions , and Vice-Chairperson of the Millennium Labour Council.-Early life:...
.
In August 2010, the Public Protector released a report which cleared Malema of involvement in state tenders in Limpopo. This was received with scepticism by some.
Threats to expose journalists
A few weeks after the tender controversy was first reported, the ANC Youth League released the personal details of City Press Investigations Editor Dumisane Lubisi, his wife and his children, including their identity numbers, bank details, residential address and vehicle details. Lubisi had reported on the poor construction quality of the Limpopo projects carried out by Malema's firms. The ANCYL made claims that it had evidence that journalists were corrupt in several respects.In response, a large group of political journalists complained to various authorities within the ANC and to the South African National Editors' Forum (SANEF) stating that they viewed the release as an attempt to intimidate them into not publishing further stories, and as a threat to media freedom. They further questioned how a political organisation obtained sensitive personal information without breaking the law. The Sowetan newspaper, in an editorial, called the steps to silence journalists "tyrannical", and accused the ANC Youth league of exploiting its closeness to "state and institutional power", to intimidate journalists who wrote about Malema. SANEF also released a statement supporting the journalists.
Malema then issued a statement that the ANCYL would continue to expose journalists.
Investigation by the Hawks
Whilst overseas at a friend's wedding in Mauritius at the end of October 2011, it was reported in various South African media that Malema faced various charges of corruption, fraud and money laundering – these charges having been brought forward by the Special Investigative Unit, the Hawks. At the core of the allegations is the Ratanang Trust, a trust ostensibly set up by Malema and named for his son – with his son and grandmother listed as beneficiaries – but allegedly is the focal point for payments made by politically-connected businessmen in return for lucrative state tenders, mostly in the impoverished Limpopo region.Malema has since denied all wrong-doing, whilst various investigations continue.
March 2010 hate speech conviction
On March 15, 2010 Malema was convicted of hate speechHate speech
Hate speech is, outside the law, any communication that disparages a person or a group on the basis of some characteristic such as race, color, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, nationality, religion, or other characteristic....
by the Equality Court, fined R50 000 and ordered to apologise unconditionally, following a 2009 incident when he told a group of Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
students at a South African Students' Congress (SASCO) meeting that the woman who accused ANC
African National Congress
The African National Congress is South Africa's governing Africanist political party, supported by its tripartite alliance with the Congress of South African Trade Unions and the South African Communist Party , since the establishment of non-racial democracy in April 1994. It defines itself as a...
president Jacob Zuma
Jacob Zuma
Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma is the President of South Africa, elected by parliament following his party's victory in the 2009 general election....
of rape had a "nice time" with him because in the morning she had "requested breakfast and taxi money" Following the conviction SASCO expressed "delight" at the ruling and attacked Malema for the "gratuitous abuse" of the platform that SASCO granted him
"Shoot the Boer" song
In March 2010, at a rally on a university campus Malema sang the lyrics "shoot the BoerBoer
Boer is the Dutch and Afrikaans word for farmer, which came to denote the descendants of the Dutch-speaking settlers of the eastern Cape frontier in Southern Africa during the 18th century, as well as those who left the Cape Colony during the 19th century to settle in the Orange Free State,...
" (Dubul' ibhunu) from the anti-apartheid song Ayasab' amagwala (the cowards are scared) ("Boer" is the Afrikaans word for "farmer", but is also used as a derogatory term for any white person). His singing was compared to similar chants by deceased Youth League leader Peter Mokaba
Peter Mokaba
Peter Mokaba was a member of the South African parliament, deputy minister in the government of Nelson Mandela and president of the South African governing party's youth wing, the ANC Youth League...
in the early 1990s, to "kill the boer", which had previously been defined as hate speech
Hate speech
Hate speech is, outside the law, any communication that disparages a person or a group on the basis of some characteristic such as race, color, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, nationality, religion, or other characteristic....
by the South African Human Rights Commission
South African Human Rights Commission
The South African Human Rights Commission was inaugurated in October 1995 as an independent national institution. It draws its mandate from the South African Constitution by way of the South African Human Rights Commission Act of 1994....
.
Malema's singing of the song led to a barrage of complaints against him, both to the police, and to the commission.
The ANC said "We wouldn't appreciate any statements against any member of our society, including whites... they are also South Africans", however, it "had not taken a decision in the matter".
The Southern Gauteng High Court ruled on 26 March 2010 that Malema's song (which he had continued singing at public gatherings ) was "unconstitutional and unlawful", and that any person singing it could face charges of incitement to murder, stating that the song called for the killing of the "farmer/white man", however, the ANC defended the song. The ANC announced it would appeal the ruling. The Northern Gauteng High Court, on 1 April 2010 then granted an interdict
Interdict
The term Interdict may refer to:* Court order enforcing or prohibiting a certain action* Injunction, such as a restraining order...
preventing Malema from publicly uttering the words of this or any other song which could be considered to be instigating violence, distrust and/or hatred between black and white citizens in the Republic of South Africa" until the matter was heard by the Equality Court, to which the case was referred by the presiding judge.
In the aftermath of Eugène Terre'Blanche
Eugène Terre'Blanche
Eugène Ney Terre'Blanche was a former member of South Africa's Herstigte Nasionale Party who founded the Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweging during the apartheid era...
's April 2010 murder, senior leaders of the ANC temporarily banned the singing of the song, amid concerns that struggle songs were being used to "scapegoat" the ANC and to further racial hatred, and because of concerns that ANC leaders who continued singing the songs may have been in contempt of the court orders banning the singing of the song.
President Jacob Zuma, at a 10 April 2010 news conference said Malema was "totally out of order" for ignoring ANC instructions to obey the court order banning the singing the song. Zuma emphasised the constitutional role of the judiciary and the rule of law, and also said that the role of the judiciary "as the final arbiter in disputes" had to be respected, and that defiance of the proper procedures in place to challenge judicial rulings, made a "mockery of the judicial system" and "should not be tolerated".
Hate speech trial and conviction
In April 2011 Afriforum brought a case of hate speech against Malema in regard to the song and several notable ANCANC
ANC commonly refers to the African National Congress, a revolutionary movement which became the ruling political party in South Africa in the 1994 election.ANC may also refer to:-Organizations:...
figures such as Winnie Madikizela-Mandela
Winnie Madikizela-Mandela
Winnie Madikizela-Mandela is a South African politician who has held several government positions and headed the African National Congress Women's League. She is currently a member of the ANC's National Executive Committee...
and secretary-general Gwede Mantashe
Gwede Mantashe
Gwede Mantashe is a South African politician, holding posts of ANC secretary general and chairperson of the South African Communist Party.- Posts :...
threw their weight behind him in the court battle. Aggressive and patronizing questioning of black witnesses by lawyers for the Afrikaner
Afrikaner
Afrikaners are an ethnic group in Southern Africa descended from almost equal numbers of Dutch, French and German settlers whose native tongue is Afrikaans: a Germanic language which derives primarily from 17th century Dutch, and a variety of other languages.-Related ethno-linguistic groups:The...
groups bringing the suit reportedly allowed Malema to portray himself a victim of Afrikaner persecution.
On 12 September 2011, Malema was found guilty of hate speech.
Genocide Watch Place South Africa at Stage 6 on Countries at Risk Chart
On September 15th 2011 Genocide WatchGenocide Watch
Genocide Watch is an international organization based in the United States which attempts to predict, prevent, limit, eliminate, and punish genocide throughout the world through reporting, public awareness campaigns, and judicial or quasi-judicial follow-up...
, an international organization which monitors countries for signs of genocidal behavior, upgraded South Africa to Stage 6 "Preparation" on the Countries at Risk Chart until Julius Malema is removed from a position of power because of "his attempts to incite racial hatred in the land."
Depiction in mainstream media
Malema is known for his controversial statements and has become a frequent target for lampooning. Initially, Cartoonists ZapiroZapiro
Jonathan Shapiro, born 1958 in Cape Town, is a South African cartoonist, famous as Zapiro, whose work appears in numerous South African publications and has been exhibited internationally on many occasions...
and Jeremy Nell
Jeremy Nell
Jeremy Talfer Nell , often referred to by his pen name Jerm, is an award-winning South African cartoonist, social commentator, and blogger...
frequently drew him dressed in nappies. Some analysts depict him as an orator, with a broad appeal in the young, poor, and disadvantaged black electorate. More recently, as Malema's public profile has grown, he has been described by critics in the media as a "demagogue". He was listed in Time (magazine)
Time (magazine)
Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
s Least Influential People of 2010, whilst conversely Forbes Magazine named him as one of the "10 Youngest Power Men In Africa" in September 2011.