Julius Malema, the firebrand leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), is once again the subject of intense speculation, this time regarding the status of his marriage.
The rumour mill has gone into overdrive following the sudden disappearance of all photographs of his wife, Mantwa, from his official Instagram account. While the EFF leader remains silent, the move has ignited a flurry of divorce rumours, particularly given a previous, albeit unsubstantiated, claim of marital troubles.
The timing of the photo purge is particularly noteworthy, falling just weeks before Malema and Mantwa’s tenth wedding anniversary, a milestone they were expected to celebrate on 27 December. The couple, married in a private ceremony in 2014, share two sons, Kopano and Munzhedzi. Malema also has a third child, Ratanang, from a previous relationship.
This isn’t the first time whispers of marital discord have surfaced. In August, media personality Lester Kiewit made waves on X (formerly Twitter) with a provocative post: “Julius Malema is currently going through his second divorce. In the first one, he got the kids. The second he keeps the House.” While Kiewit’s assertions remain unverified, the recent Instagram activity has certainly given them renewed traction.
Julius Malema is currently going through his second divorce.
In the first one, he got the kids. The second he keeps the House. pic.twitter.com/FwphlYseoY— Lester Kiewit (@lesterkk) August 15, 2024
Despite the swirling rumours, Malema has yet to publicly address the speculation. His Instagram account, while now devoid of images of his wife, still features pictures of his children. This subtle distinction has only added fuel to the fire, leaving many to interpret the action as a deliberate omission, rather than a simple technical glitch or oversight.
For years, Malema has shared glimpses into his family life on social media, documenting everything from lavish events like the Durban July to intimate birthday and anniversary celebrations.
These public displays of affection, now conspicuously absent, have further fuelled the speculation surrounding the state of his marriage. The sudden and complete removal of all photos featuring Mantwa has left many scrambling to understand the implications.
Adding another layer to the intrigue is Malema’s recent appearance on Lasizwe’s YouTube show, ‘Awkward Dates.’ During the interview, Malema spoke briefly about his wife, offering a seemingly innocuous yet now curiously poignant statement: “We are one thing — when the two become one. So, I can’t leave her out,” he said in response to a lighthearted query from Lasizwe about why he was discussing his wife on their “date.”
He also described his marriage proposal as the most romantic gesture he’d ever made: “When I went down on one knee, asking my wife to marry me. There is no romance bigger than that,” he added.
These comments, made just days before the photo deletion, now carry a heavy weight of ambiguity.
Our news team has reached out to Julius Malema’s representatives for comment and clarification on the situation. This article will be updated as soon as a response is received.
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