Is Julius Malema the most dangerous man in South Africa?

As Cyril Ramaphosa, South Africa’s president, delivered his annual state-of-the-nation speech on February 8th, he looked remarkably nonchalant for the leader of a country beset by power cuts, staggering unemployment and rising crime. He appeared to have been cheered by small pleasures. For the first time since taking office in 2018, he was able to finish the address without the threat of interruption, heckling or the sight of pugilistic opposition members being removed by security.

This was because the main instigator of parliamentary disorder in recent years was not there. Julius Malema, the populist leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), had been suspended from Parliament for the month of February, along with five other party officials, after storming the stage to demand Mr Ramaphosa’s resignation while he was delivering his state-of-the-nation speech last year.