Juju is simply filling voids

2 August 2023

Give the devil his due: Julius Malema has not only survived politically, but he has grown his party’s support to levels that are the envy of other upstarts.

To be sure, much of it can be attributed to his charisma, vim and the EFF’s personal brand of radicalism. Sometimes their activism has been ham-handed, petty and objectionable, but he keeps scoring those victories – legal and political.

While grasping the “how” of his prowess and appeal is indeed important, it is the “why” that deserves attention. In a country such as contemporary South Africa, its social ills and depravations must be heeded in probing this enigmatic man. To my mind, it boils down to being a metaphor for the serious voids left by weak leadership and absent fathers.

President Cyril Ramaphosa recently exhorted the ANC Youth League (ANCYL) to essentially be radical like their predecessors during the 1940s, 1980s and 1990s. “We don’t want to see an ANC Youth League that is docile, an ANC Youth League that is asleep during the revolution,” he told a disinterested crowd at their 26th national elective conference. He mentioned Peter Mokaba and former president Nelson Mandela as figures to be espoused.

Strong words, but there is something jarring about a tepid 70-year old man telling teens and 20-somethings to be more radical in their youth. He addressed the “how” but not the “why” of this much-vaunted radicalism. He seems to forget that the erstwhile leaders and members of the ANCYL had a common enemy and cause that galvanised and united them: Apartheid, racial discrimination and even whites per se.

Today, they have no such cause lest they turn on the ANC itself. The political kingdom (to borrow a term from Kwame Nkrumah) has been achieved but the economic spoils have eluded the black youth, in particular. Their schools are in dire straits and few of them that start Grade 1 ever matriculate. Only a fraction of those that finish school enter higher education. The ANC’s policies and laws have made the absorption of unschooled labour exceedingly difficult and risky and government employment are the preserve of loyal cadres. The ANC has ruined the lives of many millions young black people and Ramahosa’s feckless leadership is no exception. This has doubtless led to mass disenchantment with the ruling party and a waning commitment to it among the youth.    

Probably deliberately, Ramaphosa omitted Malema’s name from the list of former ANCYL’s radical leaders. He was indeed radical until they booted him out of the party, but the ANCYL has never since been the same beast it was back when he was in charge of it. The irony of fate is that Malema draws larger crowds than his erstwhile comrades that expelled him from the ANC. And he is being just as zany and zealous as Mokaba by singing the songs that the ANC itself isn’t even singing anymore.

In summary, Ramaphosa’s weak stewardship of the country has allowed Malema to shoot to fame. Juju has filled that void with gusto by reveling in, inter alia, inciting violence and false promises. His party is aptly named the Economic Freedom Fighters, which promises the very (contested) thing the ANC has failed to deliver.

Secondly, he is a fatherlessness metaphor and role-model. He came from a poor, fatherless household and many people view him as someone to espouse and identify with. Millions of young, black people are fatherless and desire a champion. Many – although not exclusively – young people view his path to success (despite the vexatious corruption charges and sanctimonious ideological fealty) and actions as totally legitimate and fair. He is held up as a paragon of achievement among many.

Not that Malema doesn’t flaunt his success and wealth, but Ramaphosa betting almost R12 million at an auction on a buffalo in the wake of the Marikana massacre was bad optics, at best. Malema lives the life of Riley, but at least pretends to care by being a sworn Marxist. MSNBC Opinion editor Zeeshan Aleem wrote recently that former US president Donald Trump’s “fun” factor is what keeps him polling miles ahead of those behind him in the Republican primaries. The same goes for Malema, Ramaphosa and other former leaders of the ANC. He is winning over the hearts and minds of many by providing them with “fun” and a home. Much like Former President Jacob Zuma did.

All of this must not be construed to be an endorsement of his views and actions. They remain reprehensible and must be condemned. It’s just an attempt to understand and convey something helpful to drive this debate further. This is indeed concerning and all of us should grasp the “why” of what is happening.

Dr Eugene Brink is a business consultant, entrepreneur and independent commentator.