Gospel according to Julius Malema: Enough sense to appear almost credible.
Julius Malema knows how to work a crowd. Especially a media crowd. Like hordes of populist politicians before him, the EFF leader includes just enough common sense to give his outrageous ideas some credibility. Journalists lap it up, even forgiving attacks on colleagues – like the "bloody agent" outburst against the BBC and anger at Gupta Media. And where the media goes, the vox populi follow. For the rational, discounting Malema is no longer an option. The 35 year old is poised to play an important role in South African politics for years into the future. On current trends, his party could well be the kingmaker after the 2019 national election. But be warned. Malema has warped economic ideas, despises organised business – he terms it "white monopoly capital" – and is hostile towards anyone who does not share his Marxist worldview. The realities of Venezuela, Argentina and Cuba disasters haven't registered in the Malema consciousness because they don't suit his story. He views "the market" as a malignant conspiracy to keep the poor in penury, rather than the complex accumulation of multitudes acting in their own self-interest. Like many populists before him, Malema has yet to discover he doesn't know what he doesn't know. If you thought education was expensive, try ignorance. – Alec Hogg
By Lizeka Tadwa