How Malema and Rupert’s Feud Came About?

(The Post news)- The age-old rivalry of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Leader Julius Malema and the South Africa’s wealthiest man Johan Rupert has once again become center of attention after the business man claimed to be targeted by the opposition party leader.

Rupert and golf legends, Ernie Els and Retief Goosen joined President Cyril Ramaphosa’s delegation to meet United States of America President Donald Trump at the White House on the 21 March 2025, in a meeting aimed at
revitalising bilateral, economic and political ties between the two countries.

The meeting came amid ongoing disputes between US and Ramaphosa led government, fueled by the widespread misleading white genocide claims.

During the meeting, Rupert trashed the “white genocide” claims, stating that there are too many deaths in the country and it does not only affect white people.

“We have too many deaths, but it’s across the board,” Rupert said.

In his reflection of his personal political history in SA apartheid era, Rupert said that he has been targeted by political groups, citing that he is the number one target.

“Please just Google my name and Malema. You’ll see it, sir. He marched on my doorstep.” he said.

However, Malema retaliated on social media, dismissing the meeting, saying that it was a group of older men gathering to gossip about him, stating that there is no amount of intelligence evidence that has been produced about white genocide, and also added they can never be compromised on their principles.

Malema has constantly mantained his views about Rupert, his influence on the government and how he generated his wealth, since from the establishment of EFF in 2013.

In 2019, while addressing his party supporters, Malema said that the country has a problem called Rupert who controls Ramaphosa other ministers. He made claims that, Rupert is not a South African, relating to his threats of leaving the country.

“This guy, Rupert says if we don’t stop our nonsense he is going to leave, I want to call upon all South Africans, let us speed up the process of accompanying Rupert to the airport because we don’t want Rupert in South Africa,” He stated.

In 2022 April, the EFF picketed outside one of the farms owned by Rupert in Stellenboch as part of their demonstration against the arrival of first European settlers more than 300 years ago on the 6 April 1652. The EFF claimed Rupert’s family benefited from “stolen land”.

Speaking to SABC news, EFF Spokesperson Sinawo Thambo called for the advancement of living conditions for the farm workers and asked Rupert to seize his participation in “manipulating” the political system in the country through his companies.

On one of their most recent statements shared on social media X, the EFF had criticized Rupert’s presence in the US delegation, describing it as a “spit in the face of our democracy,” adding that the billionaire has always been opposing the expropriation of land without compensation.

EFF emphasised that Rupert went to the US as a major beneficiary of unequal land and economic relations, and also shared that in the past, the business man threatened to disinvest in the country and collapse the economy if his wealth is threatened through constitutional mechanisms.

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Lindelani Mndaba

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