​“That Is Very Stupid” Julius Malema Loses Temper With Reporter Over Question

Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema rejected a question about his links to several controversial figures during a media briefing, calling it personal and “very stupid.” The exchange came as the party faces questions about a steep fall in support in the 2026 local government elections.

EWN journalist Alpha Ramushwana asked whether associations mentioned in court cases and affidavits could have influenced voters. The people he named included the late taxi boss Jothan Msibi, businessman Mo Sayed, former Crime Intelligence official Feroz Khan and Sandton socialite Ze Nxumalo. Ramushwana argued that voters notice such connections and may consider them when deciding how to vote.

Malema objected to the question, saying it brought an irrelevant personal issue into the press conference. He said there was no evidence that voters had stopped supporting the EFF because of Nxumalo, and accused the journalist of presenting a personal view as a political concern.

The disagreement followed a difficult election for the EFF. The party won 6.26 percent of the vote, down from 10.31 percent in the 2021 local elections. The decline cost it more than 600,000 votes and moved it from third to fourth place nationally. The result was the party’s weakest national showing since its formation.

Malema has previously said that he knows Nxumalo and that she introduced him to Msibi. He has denied that his relationships with the people named involved wrongdoing or affected the party’s support. Some of the same names have also emerged at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, which is examining allegations of corruption and political interference in the taxi industry and law-enforcement structures.

Ramushwana’s question put the issue of those connections directly to Malema, who rejected the suggestion that they contributed to the EFF’s losses. The exchange drew mixed reactions. Some viewers said the journalist raised a reasonable question about factors that may shape voters’ choices, while others agreed with Malema that the matter was unrelated to the election result.

Malema has described the outcome as a setback, rather than a defeat, and has urged progressive parties to cooperate more closely ahead of the 2029 national election.

https://x.com/newslivesa/status/2119067497680789849?a=VERKekucZIYv1Z30Fm0&s=19

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