Malema Threatens R1m Defamation Action Against Helen Zille

EFF leader Julius Malema has issued a formal legal ultimatum to DA Federal Council Chairperson and Johannesburg mayoral candidate Helen Zille, threatening a R1 million defamation lawsuit over comments she made during a televised interview on eNCA. The dispute stems from an interview Zille gave on Sunday, alleging that former DA member and ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba operated as “the EFF mayor” to stay in power during his tenure as the mayor of Johannesburg.

Zille claimed Mashaba allowed Malema to dictate major municipal decisions, capture City Power, influence a municipal fleet tender to benefit his front companies, and instruct the appointment of Shadrack Sibiya as head of the city’s anti-corruption unit. In response, Malema’s attorneys sent a letter of demand, accusing Zille of presenting baseless, malicious allegations as fact to inflict political damage. Malema demanded a full retraction, a public apology, and a written undertaking not to repeat the remarks by Wednesday.

Zille, however, remained resolute, posting on social media that she would not retract her statements or apologise. This move contrasts sharply with Malema's own decade-long history of making aggressive and unsubstantiated attacks against politicians, journalists, and judges. For a decade, the EFF leader has built a political brand on unfiltered, aggressive rhetoric, often hurled serious, often unsubstantiated accusations and personal insults at political rivals, journalists, and members of the judiciary.

Incidents involving journalists show Malema's history of aggressive behaviour. While serving as the ANC Youth League president in 2010, Malema expelled BBC journalist Jonah Fisher from a press briefing at Luthuli House, calling him a “bloody agent”, a “bastard”, and a “small boy”. The incident drew widespread condemnation from press freedom groups and opposition parties. In 2018, Malema urged supporters to “cut the head” of enemies in the media and insulted specific reporters outside the Zondo Commission.

The South African Editor’s Forum took Malema and the EFF to the Equality Court, which dismissed the application in October 2019 on the grounds that the statements did not meet the legal threshold for hate speech under the Equality Act. Malema also accused news channel eNCA of supporting “white supremacy” in 2018 and later dismissed questions from an Eyewitness News journalist regarding the EFF's electoral decline as “stupid” and “personal” in November 2026.

Malema's clashes with politicians and judges have resulted in frequent parliamentary disruptions, rulings by the National Assembly Speaker ordering Malema to withdraw unparliamentary remarks, and disciplinary suspensions from the house. During a public address in 2023, Malema sharply criticised former Tourism Minister Lindiwe Sisulu, calling her the “most uneducated and foolish minister”. He accused her and other ANC veterans of constantly reminding citizens of their participation in the liberation struggle to avoid accountability for current governance failures.

The EFF leader has repeatedly accused President Cyril Ramaphosa of corruption, money laundering, and interfering with state institutions. Malema has also repeatedly insulted Mashaba on social media and at rallies, calling him a “fool who can't think or speak”.

Key points

• Malema has a history of making aggressive and unsubstantiated attacks against politicians, journalists, and judges.
• Zille alleged that Mashaba operated as “the EFF mayor” to stay in power during his tenure as the mayor of Johannesburg.
• Malema is threatening a R1 million defamation lawsuit against Zille over her remarks on eNCA.