Malema: Money. Power. Patronage.

by Micah Reddy, Pauli van Wyk

This is not a biography of Julius Malema. It is the story of his money.

Over the past two decades, Malema has leveraged his growing political clout to bankroll his party and amass a personal fortune. In this revealing book, investigative journalists Micah Reddy and Pauli van Wyk follow the money, demonstrating how Malema built his fiefdom.

They unearth astounding details about Malema’s old, seemingly forgotten scandals in Limpopo, where he and his cronies duped not only the public, but also each other. They trace how loot from the VBS Bank found its way to Malema and Floyd Shivambu, and expose their Economic Freedom Fighters’ rent-seeking in the metros of Johannesburg and Tshwane. The book shows how, over the years, Malema has refined his modus operandi, making it difficult for South Africa’s justice system to hold him accountable.

But it also tells a bigger story: About the insidious ways in which money courses through South African politics and how self-styled radical leaders exploit valid grievances about inequality to enrich themselves, stealing from the very people they claim to fight for. Malema lays bare the interplay between power and wealth – and its stark threat to our democracy.

372 pages, Softcover

First published September 1, 2025

Reviews

[Kaleem · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellently written and clearly well-researched book that has shown me many things I didn’t know, and has helped me change my mind about the legitimacy and integrity of the EFF and Malema. Maybe one of the more important political reads of my recent adult life.

[Joel Hammett · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book gives a very detailed view of the disgustingly corrupt world of South African politics. As someone who’s grown up next door to Malema’s home village of Seshego, I have first hand experience with quite a bit of the stuff in this book.

What is true of Malema is true of virtually every South African politician. In a post-apartheid state, the ANC leeches and their children have spoiled a country with much potential. As always, the political elite distance themselves from their constituents in cowardly falsehood.

While this is true of all politicians, Malema, with his vituperant rhetoric, does excel. One day, Malema, along with all his bedfellows and models, will suffer for their sin.

This book is well researched, though hard to follow: hence the three stars. I have no reason to disbelieve anything they say.

[Gillian Nicholson · Rating 3 out of 5]

The details per page and the sheer assertiveness of Malema, the self made man, are astounding. His double standards are very evident.

It is a comfort to me to know that this book will remain long after Malema has gone, to expose his corruption, flip flopping, and self gratification. Well done to the authors for this incredible and definitive work.

At the same time that Malema’s credit card registered purchases at the designer Sandton shops, the gogo clients of VBS were sleeping outside the bank, stressing at having lost all their life savings. Malema is implicated in receiving VBS money.

He donated the same tractor to two neighboring communities, and had it “donated” to him in the first place!

How he has got away with so much for so long is a poor reflection on the consequences of corruption in our country.

[Justin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to stop reading these books.
there is so much detail here, but we will never see anything done about all of this proven corruption