Malema is a definitively skillful and impressive populist – part one

Firebrand Julius Malema is an impressive populist and a shrewd tactician. Few politicians on earth can possibly match his brilliant verbal skills and ultra-militant rhetoric.

One of Juju’s powerful traits is his mysterious ability to rise from the political grave. Many people thought Juju’s expulsion from the ANC was the end of his political career. Early this year he emerged from the political wilderness and announced that he was forming a new party.

Juju mastered the art of political survival and militant politics when he was Cosas president in 2001. In 2002 several attempts were made by his opponents to dislodge him from this presidency. Fortunately, or unfortunately, they failed to topple him.

He employed a combination of populist militancy and tactical manoeuvring to outsmart and defeat his opponents. He is ruthlessly skilled at marginalising people who are not obedient to his ultra-militant agenda.

Juju apparently strongly believes that it is the ultimate duty of a leader to think, act and decide fór the organisation. Shortly after his election as ANCYL president in 2008, Malema completely changed the modus operandi of the league. He appropriated onto himself all the decision-making powers of the league. He turned the league’s national executive committee into a ‘toothless bulldog’ that approved of everything he did.

His dictatorial style of leadership does not create any room for dissenting views. People who served with Juju in Cosas say it is not possible to disagree with him. He does not have any sense of sympathy for his foes and rivals. He is a typical streetwise dissident who does not subscribe to any bureaucratic rules and restrictions. In 2010 he arbitrarily suspended and expelled most of his rivals from the Youth League.

Juju uses directives, instructions and ultimatums to communicate with his allies. He prefers to rule by decree and his word is final. With fiery voice, Malema always reminded his comrades in that: “You are either with us or against us.” Fear is the most powerful weapon used by dictators and tyrants to control people.

When he was facing disciplinary charges in the ANC, Malema reassured his supporters that he was a battle-scarred soldier who would die with his boots on.

Elvis Masoga

Political analyst