EDITORIAL | Malema’s respect seems to be reserved for only a few women, not women in general

The comments made by EFF leader Julius Malema suggesting that the social media conduct of partners and family members of EFF leaders is a reflection of betrayal to his party should be condemned for the vitriol it is.

During his Gauteng ground forces forum address on Monday night, the party leader made bitter comments that were seemingly directed towards Mmabatho Montsho, an artist, actress and film director, who is also the wife of Dr Mbuyiseni Ndlozi. Her crime? Liking an Instagram post by former EFF deputy president Floyd Shivambu. It was a picture of the uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) Party logo and quoting its manifesto.

This, he said, was a sign of betrayal. He said he could not imagine his wife liking a post that was anti-EFF. He does not see his loved ones, especially women, as people with their own agency and right to choose. He views women from a lens of inferiority, that they are acceptable if they serve as an extension of their husbands and not necessarily independent adults.

South Africa is an unequal society and women in the broader political landscape are still subjected to domination by their male counterparts. Malema should know better.

We should be concerned that a man who was raised by two women he speaks highly of — his mother and grandmother — would demean a woman unnecessarily on a public platform. He forgets that it was Mama Winnie Madikizela-Mandela’s influence that moulded him into the politician he has become. His success can be attributed to the ability of women to choose what is right for them and associate with whatever political agenda they choose.

Malema's respect seems to be reserved for only a few in his life and not women in general.

Feminist activist and author bell hooks famously said first and foremost the “feminist movement urged females to no longer see ourselves and our bodies as the property of men”. Malema is surrounded by so many brilliant women that do not need his permission to exist and matter. He expects his fellows to control the behaviour of their partners, but what does this then say about his treatment and regard for the brilliant women that are in his political cycle? His obsession with keeping people in line borders on gender discrimination.

This would not be the first time the culture of demeaning women in the EFF has reared its ugly head. Earlier this year, a young woman in the organisation, Naledi Chirwa, was made to write a public apology over her absence in parliament as she had to look after her sick child. The whole situation was blown out of proportion. South Africa is an unequal society and women in the broader political landscape are still subjected to domination by their male counterparts. Malema should know better.

Malema also said he had observed that party leaders who are usually vocal on social media had been silent on Shivambu's exit and did not defend the embattled party. Expecting wives and children of your party members to pledge blind loyalty to you is misguided.

He is a product of women who applied themselves. As a result, they nourished, supported and conscientised him. As a leader in a country battling gender-based violence, inequality and other social ills, he needs to reflect on how he speaks about women, in particular those around him because it gives us a perspective of who he really is.

Dragging Montsho into his hurt over Shivambu was unnecessary. We condemn his disrespect towards women.