By Political Staff
Julius Malema is fighting for his political and financial life. As opposition parties demand a probe into his personal life and Cosatu and the SACP gun for him, Malema's biggest threat is in his traditional power base, Limpopo.
Malema - whose wealth was revealed this week as derived almost entirely from political patronage - is entangled in a power struggle with his former friend-turned-sworn enemy, Limpopo ANC Youth League chairman Lehlogonolo Masoga.
Malema is an ally of Premier Cassel Mathale.
Limpopo officials claim a battle for control over provincial resources and political power lies at the heart of the struggle. They say tenders and appointments in the province are awarded on a factional basis, crippling services and paralysing municipalities.
A well-placed provincial government official, who did not want to be named, told the Saturday Star "it is ugly".
"You can't even make appointments without being interrogated about your political loyalty. Go and investigate how many municipal posts and departments are still (vacant) and ask for reasons," he said.
But an ANCYL official who is close to Malema said the rivalry was sparked by those who didn't make it to Mathale's cabinet and started "waging factional wars to discredit Julius".
The spat is expected to erupt when the youth league holds its Limpopo conference in April.
Malema's supporters want to unseat Masoga, who is standing for re-election as provincial chairman.
Malema is also being challenged elsewhere, most notably in the Eastern Cape, where the league will be holding its provincial conference next month. The Malema faction wants current youth league provincial secretary Ayanda Matiti as chairman, while the SACP-aligned faction is proposing Jento Blou for the position.
Malema has said he viewed his current troubles as a test for higher office within the ANC. "For you to be a serious leader in the ANC, you must be tried and tested. I'm on top of the situation, this has not affected me or the youth league. (Instead) it has made us more resolute to fight on," said Malema.
Several youth league branches have come out in support of Malema, with some pushing him for another term when it expires next year.
This week, the league sought to silence debate about his lifestyle, but the Left is defiant.
The SA Municipal Workers Union, a Cosatu affiliate, is planning protest action on Tuesday in all of Limpopo's municipalities.
Western Cape SACP secretary Khaya Magaxa has gone so far as to call Malema a "modern-day Hitler" who was trying to divide the alliance.
DA youth leader Khume Ramulifho has asked the tender board to probe all companies linked to Malema, following reports that the firms received contracts from Limpopo municipalities despite not being registered with the Construction Industry Development Board.
Malema is also the subject of a viral smear campaign, with pictures of luxury homes supposedly belonging to him doing the rounds on the internet. The subject line of one of these e-mails reads: "Leave Juju alone", while another states: "Malema's house in Sandton", with the question in the body: "Is this true, Comrades?"
The grey double-storey house, with the number 31 on the wall, is built in an apparent aquatic style with a built-in fish tank and portholes in the outer wall.
ANCYL spokesman Floyd Shivambu reacted angrily to requests for comment.
"Don't do this," he demanded. "We sent out a humble statement asking for these stories to stop."