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It is clear that this case will not end in the near future; there is still a long way to as the CIC Julius Malema made his intentions clear to appealing the judgement, which could drag the case for many years on end.
As much as Malema’s enemies are in a jubilant mode, it seems premature to celebrate his downfall or look forward to his incarceration. This case is unfolding at a crucial time, during election year for local government wherein the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has the ambition to at least secure a municipality.
The case and his sentencing have the potential to undermine the efforts of the party in winning elections, with the reputational damage it has, and to also fragment the party’s focus on the upcoming elections. It seems like no matter how you look at it, the EFF is about to be hard hit by this case.
Interestingly enough, as much as the enemy has surrounded the CIC, he has overwhelming support from his party and family, he is solid. Thousands of EFF members made it to East London Magistrate’s Court to support him, his wife and relatives were also by his side, surprisingly enough, other political parties and traditional leaders showed up in support of Malema.
As I was scrolling through social media, I came across some ANC youth league members expressing their support for Malema; they are even willing to defy party protocol in support of the son of the soil. The case is becoming bigger than what it was initially meant to; the longer in drags, it seems the more and more people jump on the bandwagon to stand with Malema.
His support crossed the borders of South Africa, as EFF leaders from other African countries were also here bring with them the weight of the continent, meaning, the whole of Africa and the world is watching this. Julius Malema is also a declared enemy of the White House and has been banned from travelling to the United States; the US will therefore be following this case with keen interest.
The case is meant to demoralise the EFF leader and his party and shut him up; it seems, instead, it is campaigning on behalf of the EFF, an undesired outcome for the adversaries of the EFF and Julius Malema. The case is not only about the prosecution of the CIC, it has become a war between the majority and white supremacy, between the politics of the right and that of the left.
Malema is gaining sympathy support as the case drags, as the case itself has wholes within it and it seems like a mission to convict Malema by hook or crook, even some of his critics are having a change of heart and see him as a victim or casualty of white supremacy. There is a possibility that this support Malema is enjoying, may translate into votes during the local elections.
The MKP President Jacob Zuma, after being imprisoned, he received a lot of support which also translated into voter support during the national elections in 2024, his party became the third largest party in the country, knocking the EFF to fourth place. History is a good teacher and one needs to pay attention to the trends and lessons.
This prosecution might just launch the EFF into orbit and see the party growing exponentially and claim the largest share of the votes, an unintended outcome for the enemies of the party. The EFF will also do well to take advantage of the situation and ride the wave.
