Julius Malema on Helen Zille
TL;DR
Julius Malema has historically branded Helen Zille a racist and imperialist enemy, though he once issued a rare joint apology for defamatory statements.
Key Points
In June 2012, he and other ANCYL leaders formally apologised and retracted defamatory statements, including accusations of racism, made against her.
He publicly referred to her as a "racist little girl" around May 2009 and stated they would "never make up with Helen Zille."
In March 2026, he referred to her as “drunk” after she shared images of herself drinking beer while watching the Soweto Derby.
Summary
Julius Malema has historically maintained a strongly critical stance against Helen Zille, frequently labelling her with terms like "racist," "colonialist," and "imperialist." This opposition was particularly sharp during his time as ANCYL president, where he accused her of promoting a racist agenda to make the Western Cape a province for white people only. This intense rhetoric was the subject of a legal dispute in 2010, which ultimately led to a formal settlement agreement in 2012 where Malema and others unreservedly apologised for defamatory statements made against her.
Despite the formal apology ending the defamation case, current political friction remains evident, with him later publicly attacking her conduct. For instance, he recently described her as a “drunkard” following her social media posts celebrating a football match, highlighting a continued, vocal opposition to her public behaviour and political ambitions.
Key Quotes
“It's very rare to get a political leader to apologise. It's not easy. [The DA] moved a step ahead to get her to apologise, is that not fair enough? So we're going to get that [at the meeting],”
Frequently Asked Questions
Julius Malema's general position on Helen Zille is one of strong opposition, frequently branding her a racist and an enemy of the revolution. He has been vocal about his disapproval of her political ideology and conduct over many years.
The stance has shown evolution; while historically maintaining harsh rhetoric, Malema and others issued a formal apology for defamation in 2012. More recently, he has continued to offer pointed criticism of her behaviour, suggesting the underlying political antagonism persists.
Julius Malema recently slammed Helen Zille's social media activity after she posted about drinking alcohol while watching the Soweto Derby. He reportedly called her "drunk" and retweeted posts calling her a "drunkard" regarding the incident.
Sources4
Malema & Co.'s apology to Helen Zille - POLITICS | Politicsweb
Malema slams 'drunk' Helen Zille at Soweto Derby - The South African
Malema may thaw on Zille issue after 'rare' apology – The Mail & Guardian
Malema blasts Zille's 'drunkard' Soweto Derby celebrations
* This is not an exhaustive list of sources.