Boy Mamabolo

Mamabolo hails from Masakeng, Seshego.{{cite news |last1=Mahlangu |first1=Isaac |title=Malema and Mamabolo's 'Seshego Derby' takes centre stage in SONA chaos |url=https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/news/south-africa/2020-02-14-malema-and-mamabolos-seshego-derby-takes-centre-stage-in-sona-chaos-in-parliament/ |access-date=17 May 2020 |agency=SowetanLIVE |date=14 February 2020}} He and current Economic Freedom Fighters president Julius Malema grew up in the same community and both became involved in the same organisations. Both were members of the Congress of South African Students (COSAS) and the African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL). He was the COSAS provincial secretary when Malema was the organisation's national president. Their friendship ended while they were active in the ANCYL. Mamabolo was a supporter of former ANC president Jacob Zuma while Malema turned on Zuma.

Mamabolo was placed second on the ANC's regional list for the May 2019 general election. At the election, he was elected as an MP. As of June 2019, he sits on both the Portfolio Committee on Sports, Arts and Culture and the Standing Committee on the Auditor-General.

When Malema was suspended as youth league president in 2011, Mamabolo burnt a mock coffin in celebration. In 2013, he was involved in a court battle with Malema after he sent him a message threatening to exhume his mother's remains and take them to his grandmother's house.{{cite news |title=Malema: Bringing up my dead mother is distasteful |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2013-01-15-malema-when-you-insult-my-mother-you-get-to-me/ |access-date=17 May 2020 |newspaper=Mail & Guardian |date=15 January 2013}} In the same year, Mamabolo was arrested on fraud charges relating to his tenure as the chairperson of the Limpopo Geographical Names Committee.{{cite news |title=Malema foe arrested for fraud |url=https://www.iol.co.za/news/malema-foe-arrested-for-fraud-1461477 |access-date=17 May 2020 |newspaper=IOL |date=30 January 2013}}

While EFF MPs disrupted the 2020 annual State of the Nation Address, Mamabolo rose on a point of order and said:

{{Cquote|Speaker, we’ve been abused for too long, we cannot be abused in the same manner that Mantwa [Malema’s spouse] is being abused by honourable Malema… nna le lelena re dithaka (English: "we are peers"), let’s leave elderly people and go engage outside.{{cite news |last1=Meyer |first1=Dan |title=Boy Mamabolo vs Julius Malema: When friends become enemies |url=https://www.thesouthafrican.com/news/boy-mamabolo-vs-julius-malema-fight-why-history-2020/ |access-date=17 May 2020 |newspaper=The South African |date=19 February 2020}}}}

In the subsequent debate, he once again accused Malema of domestic abuse.{{cite news |last1=Gerber |first1=Jan |title=Domestic abuse claims fly as Malema's SONA debate speech marred by shouting match |url=https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/domestic-abuse-claims-fly-as-malemas-sona-debate-speech-marred-by-shouting-match-20200218 |access-date=17 May 2020 |newspaper=News24 |date=18 February 2020}}{{cite news |title=MPs slammed for using gender-based violence as a political football |url=https://www.iol.co.za/news/politics/mps-slammed-for-using-gender-based-violence-as-a-political-football-42929553 |access-date=17 May 2020 |newspaper=IOL |date=18 February 2020}} Consequently, Malema and his spouse approached the Limpopo High Court and filed lawsuits of R1 million each, citing defamation.{{cite news |last1=Madia |first1=Tshidi |title=Malema to sue ANC MP Boy Mamabolo over domestic abuse claims |url=https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/malema-to-sue-anc-mp-boy-mamabolo-over-domestic-abuse-claims-20200218 |access-date=17 May 2020 |newspaper=News24 |date=18 February 2020}}{{cite news |title=Malema’s wife Mantoa sues Boy Mamabolo for R1m over allegations of abuse |url=https://citizen.co.za/news/south-africa/politics/2243651/malemas-wife-mantoa-sues-boy-mamabolo-for-r1m-over-allegations-of-abuse/ |access-date=17 May 2020 |newspaper=The Citizen |date=19 February 2020}}{{cite news |last1=Makhetha |first1=Tankiso |title=Boy Mamabolo's legal woes increase as Mantoa Malema sues |url=https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/news/south-africa/2020-02-19-mamabolos-legal-woes-increase-as-mantoa-malema-sues/ |access-date=17 May 2020 |newspaper=SowetanLIVE |date=19 February 2020}} The two parties reached an out-of-court agreement wherein Mamabolo apologised, saying that his utterances were "uncalled for".{{cite news |last1=Molefe |first1=Russell |title=Julius Malema, Boy Mamabolo reach out-of-court settlement over domestic abuse claims |url=https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/julius-malema-boy-mamabolo-reach-out-of-court-settlement-over-domestic-abuse-claims-20200304 |access-date=17 May 2020 |newspaper=News24 |date=4 March 2020}}{{cite news |last1=Sidimba |first1=Loyiso |title=Mamabolo admits claiming Julius Malema abused his wife was ‘uncalled for’ |url=https://www.iol.co.za/news/politics/mamabolo-admits-claiming-julius-malema-abused-his-wife-was-uncalled-for-44232369 |access-date=17 May 2020 |newspaper=IOL |date=6 March 2020}}

In 2020, Mamabolo was condemned by the South African National Editors Forum for violent threats against a journalist.{{cite news

|last1=Gerber |first1=Jan |title=Condemns ANC MP’s Threats Against Journalist » SANEF |url= https://sanef.org.za/sanef-condemns-anc-mps-threats-against-journalist

}}

Mamabolo was reported in 2022 to have made a veiled death threat to an editor via WhatsApp message as part of demanding a let up in coverage of a presidential aide. {{cite news |last1=Gerber | title= SANEF calls for a swift probe into reported threats against The Star’s Editor. |url= https://sanef.org.za/sanef-calls-for-a-swift-probe-into-reported-threats-against-the-stars-editor/ }}

{{Reflist}}

• [https://www.pa.org.za/person/jacob-boy-mamabolo/ Jacob Boy Mamabolo – People's Assembly]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20200523190523/https://www.parliament.gov.za/person-details/171 Mr Jacob Boy Mamabolo – Parliament of South Africa]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mamabolo, Boy}}

Category:Living people

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)

Category:People from Polokwane

Category:Politicians from Limpopo

Category:African National Congress politicians

Category:Members of the National Assembly of South Africa 2019–2024