UNORTHODOX AND ARROGANT: NARCISSISTIC MALEMA IN HOT WATER OVER BAD COURT CONDUCT

Unorthodox and arrogant: Malema attacks court officials after sentencing, sparking Justice Dept crackdown on court broadcasts.

By Mpho Dube, Editor-in-Chief

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Controversial EFF leader Julius Malema is facing a mount of backlash after his unorthodox and arrogant post-sentencing outburst outside the KuGompo Magistrates’ Court last week.

His bad conduct and narcissistic behaviour toward court officials have forced the Department of Justice to move and shield judges and prosecutors from cameras and public attacks.  

Malema does as he likes. He was granted leave to appeal his five-year prison sentence on 16 April 2026 for firearm-related charges linked to the EFF’s fifth birthday celebrations in Mdantsane in 2018. After leaving court, he took to a stage and addressed a crowd of EFF supporters in an address broadcast live on the party’s X page.  

His behaviour was brazen and bad. During the speech, the narcissistic EFF leader called Magistrate Twanet Olivier “the most incompetent magistrate” and “a racist of note”.

He accused her of having ties to AfriForum, of not reading evidence, and of making rulings based on emotions and politics. “She goes around fundraising reasons why we must go to prison. We are dealing with someone who does not apply the law,” he said. He added that he was happy to be done with proceedings because he no longer wanted to see “her ugly face”.  

He then went after State Advocate Joel Cesar with the same arrogant tone. Malema said Cesar was arrogant and suffered from “short man syndrome”.

He said Cesar needed to be “taught a lesson” and accused him of perjury and overstepping his authority. “And we can only teach him a lesson by sitting on his neck and making sure that he is prosecuted and arrested for lying to court,” Malema told the crowd.  

The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development has since responded to the bad conduct. Spokesperson Terrence Manase said any conduct that seeks to undermine the dignity, independence and safety of judicial officers is a serious concern.

He confirmed the Minister is writing to the South African National Editors’ Forum and to judicial officers to introduce conditions for broadcasting court proceedings, including that the faces of judges, magistrates and prosecutors should not be shown.  

The department agreed with the National Prosecuting Authority that Malema’s remarks be investigated and appropriate action taken. NPA spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago said the EFF’s X platform made statements that “contain serious threats” against Cesar. “The NPA strongly condemns any form of intimidation or threats against its prosecutors,” Kganyago said. He noted that prosecutor safety is a major concern in the Eastern Cape, where three prosecutors have been killed in the past two years.  

The new broadcasting conditions would add to existing rules where media must apply case-by-case to cover proceedings. Judges and magistrates already impose conditions on what may be recorded. Manase said the department will encourage stricter conditions when applications are considered.

Malema was released on warning after being granted leave to appeal his sentence. He has approached the Makhanda High Court to start the appeal process. He was not granted leave to appeal his conviction but has indicated he will challenge that judgment as well.  

The EFF is being mum about this matter. The party has said nothing.  

All set. If your lecturer wants a word count tweak or byline added, say the word and I’ll slot it in.

Magistrate Twanet Olivier, branded “incompetent” and “racist” by a narcissistic Malema, now at the center of new rules to shield judges from public attacks.