CIC Julius Malema Resume
Raised by a single mother who was a domestic worker, and his grandmother, Julius Malema was born on 3 March 1981 in Seshego, Limpopo. Malema’s involvement in the struggle for economic liberation in South Africa and across Africa spans for over 30 years.
During this period, Malema was active in Masupatsela (a movement of the ANC), the Congress of South African Students (COSAS), the African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL), as well as now, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF).
Beginning his political career from a very young age, Julius Malema is known for his grassroots approach to activism. Known for also leading from the front and never shying away from hard work, in 1997, Malema became the Chairperson of COSAS in Limpopo, and in 2001, was elected the national president of COSAS.
It was during his term as the leader of COSAS that Malema successfully mobilised thousands of youth to march against the Education Department to demand that free education and stationary.
Mentored by great liberation heroes of our struggle such as Peter Mokaba and Mama Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, Julius Malema is cut from a cloth of fearlessness.
Commonly known as ‘Commander in Chief’ or ‘Juju’, Malema can be described as a principled revolutionary, an orator of note, a visionary activist, a selfless leader, and one of the most important figures in the history of South Africa.
His acute appreciation of the social and political structure of South African society has made many believe that he is a divisive figure, when he is in actual fact an honest, straightforward individual who has an undying love for his people.
Malema has been a thorn in the side of those in power, for over a decade. Before he was a pain to former President Jacob Zuma, he was a mosquito to the likes of Johann Rupert. It was under his leadership that the Youth League held one of the most historic marches in this country.
The Economic Freedom March, to demanding amongst other revolutionary calls, the nationalisation of mines and better wages for miners.
He has been a firebrand, a mass-mobiliser and a trendsetter for decades. His time as an inconvenient youth to the establishment, has culminated in him building one of the most formidable organisations in the country, with a footprint in South Africa and the continent. He was such an inconvenience, that even the oldest liberation movement could not take it anymore and resolved to expel him.
Months after his expulsion from the ANC for fighting against the governments inability to establish policies beneficial to the development of SA, Malema established the EFF in July 2013, a movement which seeks to ensure that the voices of the poor and marginalised are heard.
To White Monopoly Capital, Malema has been an irritant, someone who makes the uncomfortable comfortable, and the comfortable uncomfortable. This constant battle with the establishment to accept capitalist ideals has seen Malema, being supported by progressive forces not only in South Africa and Africa, but around the world.
Julius Malema continues to influence the economically disenfranchised across SA, Africa, and the diaspora – particularly the youth, through building a 2nd and 3rd layer generation of future leaders and shaping revolutionary men and women.
His love for education has never been a secret, and he fought bitterly for the youth to be given opportunities that they were always previously denied. Malema holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Leadership from the University of South Africa (UNISA) and a Bachelor of Arts Degree Honours in Philosophy at UNISA.
He is pursuing his Masters Degree at the University of Witwatersrand and remains an inspiration that education must never be separated from being a revolutionary activist.
He is a Member of the South African Parliament and the Party Leader of the fourth biggest political party in the country.
Ladies and Gentlemen, CIC Julius Malema
