​“He Is Just a Small Boy” Julius Malema Dismisses Mining Boss MySol at Rally

EFF leader Julius Malema told supporters at a recent party rally that North West mining businessman Solomon “MySol” Madibela is just “a small boy.” The short video clip, shared widely on social media by MDN News, shows Malema speaking from the stage and gesturing as the crowd responds.

Madibela built MySol Holdings and Logistics from the ground up. After finishing matric, his family could not afford university, so he started work at a local mine as a site clerk. His job included checking diesel levels on trucks and doing basic records. In his spare time he helped with other tasks on site, learned about blasting and operations, and collected the necessary certificates. He spent about 15 years working in mining before he launched his own company in 2018.

Today the company runs eight active opencast chrome mining operations for Samancor Chrome in the North West, between Mooinooi and Brits. It employs more than 2 500 people and handles drilling, blasting, loading, hauling and rehabilitation work. Madibela has said publicly that he learned the business the hard way and that the companies he now competes with once employed him.

He is also known for community work in the areas around his mines. Through the MySol Foundation he has funded university studies for about 20 students a year, offered skills training, given out food parcels and school uniforms, and supported local employment. Some residents and online commentators have pointed to a library project and other local initiatives as further examples of his contribution.

The “small boy” remark quickly drew mixed reactions. Supporters of Madibela argued that a man who rose from entry-level mine work to running large-scale operations and employing thousands of people should not be dismissed so lightly. Others noted that independent black entrepreneurs who succeed outside party structures often face criticism from politicians. EFF supporters, meanwhile, saw Malema’s words as part of his usual style of speaking at rallies.

The exchange highlights a wider tension in South African politics between party leaders and self-made business people who build companies and create jobs without aligning themselves with any political movement. Madibela has previously spoken about wanting to create lasting wealth for his children and opportunities for young people in mining communities. Whether the “small boy” label sticks or fades will depend on how ordinary South Africans weigh business results against political rhetoric.

Source: https://x.com/MDNnewss/status/2114231484491940333