On February 3 this year, Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema celebrated his 43rd birthday. Thousands of his loyal supporters sent him birthday wishes, including former president Jacob Zuma, who took the time to create a special birthday video.
This came as a surprise to many, given Malema's dramatic departure from Zuma's former party, the African National Congress (ANC), in 2010.
Social media users shared mixed reactions to Zuma's birthday wishes.
Jacob Zuma wishes Malema a happy birthday, SA reacts
Before Julius Malema became the loudmouth leader of the economic freedom fighters Fear Focol, he was a staunch supporter of the African National Congress.
As ambitious as ever, Malema was once former president Jacob Zuma's right-hand man before quickly becoming president of the party's African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL).
Malema has shown strong support for Zuma, previously saying he would kill for Zuma.
The political romance surprisingly fizzled out after Mr Zuma was forced to reprimand Mr Malema after an altercation with a BBC reporter at a press conference.
Malema turned his back on Zuma and started his own political party, the EFF, and even mocked Zuma in public.
All this seemed to be forgotten in 2021 when the pair sat together at what the media called a “tea party” at Zuma's luxurious Nkandla mansion.
Water under the bridge?
Political leaders appear to have found themselves in a bind after Mr Zuma shared a special birthday wish with Mr Malema over the weekend.
See below.
South African social media users had mixed reactions to the birthday wishes.
“A smart person would understand the significance of Mr Msholozi’s message to Julius Malema. This is bigger than a birthday wish, it is a pact, it is a commitment, it is a “MK party policy”. It answers the question “What is this?” The future is complete here,” one person wrote, while another added:
“How things change – today he calls Julius my brother, hi, the desperation for votes is on another level.”
