Monday, 3 March 2025.

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) extends revolutionary birthday wishes to our President and Commander-in-Chief (CIC), Julius Malema, a fearless leader whose life has been dedicated to the total emancipation of the African people.

Julius Sello Malema was born on 3 March 1981 in Seshego, Limpopo, and entered politics at the young age of nine when he joined the African National Congress (ANC) through its youth wing, the Masupatsela pioneer movement. He eventually joined the ANC Youth League (ANCYL) of which he became the chairperson if his branch in 1995. His political activism gained momentum in the Congress of South African Students (COSAS), where he quickly rose through the ranks to become the chairperson of its Limpopo branch in 1997 and later the national president in 2001. His leadership in COSAS was marked by militant student activism, and challenging the exclusionary and unequal nature of the South African education system.

Malema was subsequently elected chairperson of the ANCYL in Limpopo, and by 2008, he had ascended to the position of ANCYL President. As leader of the Youth League, he reignited the radical traditions of the ANC, placing economic freedom, land expropriation, and nationalisation at the centre of political discourse. His call for the expropriation of land without compensation and his critique of white monopoly capital made him a target of the reactionary forces within the ANC.

Despite his commitment to the cause of the oppressed, Malema was expelled from the ANC in 2012 for his radical positions. However, this did not deter his revolutionary spirit. Recognising the urgent need for a truly militant and uncompromising vehicle for economic freedom, he and other revolutionaries founded the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in 2013. Under his leadership, the EFF became the third-largest political party in South Africa within its first year of existence, fundamentally shifting the country’s political landscape.

Malema’s political contributions have been instrumental in ensuring the land question remains a key issue in South African politics. Through the EFF, he has also championed free decolonised education, the insourcing of workers, the protection of African migrants, and the nationalisation of key economic sectors.

Beyond the borders of South Africa, Malema has become a leading voice in the global fight against imperialism, neoliberal exploitation, and the continued plundering of Africa’s resources by Western powers. He has fearlessly confronted oppressive forces on the continent and the world stage, advocating for African unity, economic selfdetermination, and an end to neocolonial domination.

In Parliament, Malema has served as a Member of the National Assembly since 2014, using this platform to hold those in power accountable with his sharp intellect, fearless rhetoric, and commitment to the working class and the poor. His presence in the legislative space has disrupted complacency and exposed the failures of those who seek to maintain the status quo.

Despite his demanding role in politics, Malema remains a dedicated family man and a leader who is deeply connected to his community. His generosity, love for his people, and commitment to uplifting the poor are a testament to his belief in collective progress.

On this day, we celebrate not just the life of an individual but the resilience of a revolutionary who refuses to be silenced. We wish our CIC continued strength, good health, and the resolve to carry forward the mission of economic freedom in our lifetime.

Malema Tshipi ya bokgalaka, Tshipi ya hata ngwe e ya penama. Bopapa kgopo serobega melala ka mohla Mokudu Mma-tiane. Ke la bo Semadi semela makgwata mme ya mela dinaka baehlabanela. 

La bo morwa Mpshatha se ngadisa moratho, se bolaya phuti le mmutla ka nokeng ya kgwale.

La bo Sediela Manone, la bo Maata-Mmaledimo. 

La bo Matome yo motso thata ya seepe marema ga tee ka letsha, La bo Kakga yo mokwibidu 

La bo Moyahabo ha a felesetswe o felesetswa Molatelo. La bo Makata ke a kata-kata madulo o nyaka a majwang.

La bo Mokhutlhwane mokhutla dingwe. La bo Ntšatšapa le foka batho, le fokile ba makgwareng. 

La bo Seila mpheng ditlhahala, nkane tše dibotse le sa mphe. 

Aheeee. ke la bo Mohanwa a bashabi ge e le Letšjeka le Pholo ba a lwa se bakwa ga re se tsebe. 

La bo Mahlodi la bo ntelele ngwana o llela baledi. Nna ngwana a lla ga se morate ke rata ge a re mpepule, ka tšea thari ka pepa. 

Ngwana Molepa ge a tsoga o raga dikobo, ga a tshwane le mosetse matsoga a letše Ngwana Molepa o rile a tshela noka ya lepelle digwagwa tsa mokakatlela ka mesifa tšare o ya kae, Dikgobe tša re ngwana molepa le moisha kae, moleseng a fete. 

Ke wa bo matswela ntle o shale ba boya, o shale ba Mmakati le Pulane. 

Aheeee, nna ngwana molepa bannyana ha ke ferehe/ a pise ke boka dintshi.

Happy Birthday, CIC Julius Malema!

ISSUED BY THE ECONOMIC FREEDOM FIGHTERS

Leigh-Ann Mathys (National Spokesperson) 082 304 7572

Thato Lebyane (Media Enquiries) 078 304 7572