Who is Mantwa Matlala, and how did her marriage to Julius Malema draw attention?
Julius Malema is one of South Africa’s most visible political figures. His private life also draws attention. Many people want to know about his wife, Mantwa Matlala. The couple has been married since 2014. Their marriage has sparked curiosity due to its privacy and the public interest surrounding his life.
Source: Instagram
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key takeaways
- Mantwa Matlala is a private, career-focused woman who met Julius Malema in high school.
- They got married on 27 December 2014, in a private ceremony in Seshego, Limpopo, South Africa.
- The couple has three sons and maintains a close, united family life while managing public attention and occasional rumours.
- Their marriage has drawn media and social media interest, including legal action against false claims, which highlights the scrutiny of political families.
Profile summary
Full Name | Mantwa Matlala Malema |
Gender | Female |
Place of birth | Seshego, Limpopo |
Current residence | |
Ethnicity | African |
Nationality | South African |
Sexuality | Straight |
Relationship status | Married |
Spouse | Julius Malema |
Children | 3 |
Profession | Accountant |
Who is Mantwa Matlala?
Mantwa Matlala is an accountant best known as the wife of the South African politician, Julius Malema. She is a private individual who keeps a low public profile while focusing on her career and family life.
She was born in Seshego, Limpopo, South Africa. Her date of birth is a secret that has been well hidden from the public eye.
Source: Instagram
Mantwa and Julius Malema's wedding
The accountant began dating Malema while she was still in high school. Their relationship grew over the years. It was built on trust and loyalty.
The couple got married on 27 December 2014. The ceremony was private; only invited guests were allowed to attend. The wedding took place in Seshego, under tight security, and was kept away from the public and media.
What is the age difference between Malema and his wife?
Their age difference is unknown since Mantwa Matlala's date of birth and age are difficult to ascertain. Julius Malema's age is 45 years as of 2026.
Legal action over false divorce claims
Julius Malema and his wife, Matlala, recently took legal steps over false claims about their marriage.
In early 2026, blogger Musa Khawula shared posts alleging that the couple were headed for divorce. The posts spread quickly on social media and attracted public attention.
The South African politician and his wife denied the claims. They said the information was false and damaging to their family. Through their lawyers, they demanded a public apology and a retraction. They also warned of legal action if the statements were not corrected.
The couple said the allegations harmed their reputation and caused distress. Their response highlighted how quickly misinformation can spread online, especially about public figures. This incident brought renewed attention to their otherwise private marriage.
Julius Malema and Mantwa Matlala's children
The couple has three sons. Their first child together, Munzhedzi, was born in October 2016, while their second son, Kopano, was born in February 2018. Malema also has an older son, Ratanang Malema, who was born in 2006. He is from a previous relationship.
The family keeps a relatively private life. Malema occasionally shares photos of his children on social media. These posts often show family moments and celebrations.
The couple has at times drawn public attention over their lifestyle. In 2018, journalist Jacques Pauw raised questions about a vehicle linked to the family. Reports also questioned the ownership of a house in Johannesburg and mentioned businessman Adriano Mazzotti. The couple did not publicly respond to these claims.
There has also been confusion online about people with the same surname. Photographer Austin Malema is sometimes assumed to be related to the family. There is no confirmed connection.
Source: Facebook
Who is Mantwa Matlala's brother?
There is no publicly confirmed information about her siblings. Recent speculation has linked Matlala to Vusimuzi Matlala, largely because they share the same surname. Malema has explicitly denied any familial connection between his wife and the businessman.
I’m not related to ‘Cat’ Matlala. He shares a surname with my wife. There are a lot of people like that. My wife is not related to ‘Cat’ Matlala. There is no relation. We have nothing to do with Matlala.
Mantwa Matlala's education and career
Julius Malema's wife went to South African schools. She was brought up in Seshego's Zone 1 area. She went to Capricorn High School for her secondary level of education. Details of the college or university that she went to are yet to be revealed.
Nonetheless, she pursued higher education. Mantwa Malema's career is in the field of accounting. She works as an accountant in a Johannesburg-based company.
What are the qualifications of Malema?
Julius Malema has built his profile through both political experience and formal education. He completed a diploma in Youth Development through the University of South Africa. He later earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications and African Languages from the same institution.
Malema also pursued further studies in governance. He obtained a Bachelor of Arts Honours degree in Philosophy from University of South Africa.
Alongside his academic qualifications, he is widely known for his long political career. He rose to prominence as the leader of the African National Congress Youth League before founding and leading the Economic Freedom Fighters.
Overall, his qualifications combine formal education and significant political experience.
Trivia about Mantwa Matlala
- Mantwa Matlala met Julius Malema while she was still in high school. Their relationship began long before his rise in national politics.
- She is a trained accountant and has maintained a professional career outside the political spotlight.
- She keeps an extremely private life and rarely appears in interviews or public discussions.
- Her 2014 wedding was a tightly controlled private event with strong security and no media access.
- She is not active on public social media, which adds to the mystery around her personal life.
- Matlala is rarely seen at political rallies or events despite her husband’s high-profile role.
- She only became widely known to the public after marrying Malema, as interest in his personal life grew.
Mantwa Matlala is a South African accountant, best known as the wife of politician Julius Sello Malema. She is a rather private person who prefers keeping her personal life away from the public. Matlala is a happy mother of three boys and a supportive wife of the politician.
Briefly.co.za recently shared a feature on Phophi Ramathuba. Dr Phophi Ramathuba became the new Premier of Limpopo in June 2024 after the year's general election, making history as the first woman in the position.
Before her historical promotion, Phophi was Limpopo's Health MEC and elected as a member of the South African parliament in 2015. Have a look at her journey from Mokopane intern to Limpopo's first female Premier.
Source: Briefly News
Peris Walubengo (Lifestyle writer) Peris Walubengo has vast experience in search engine optimization through digital content generation, research, editing, and proofreading. She joined Briefly.co.za in November 2019 and completed the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques. You can email her at perisrodah254@gmail.com.
Sharon Boit (Lifestyle writer) Sharon J. Boit is a creative writer and researcher with over 10 years of experience. She began her career as a project manager and researcher at the Center for Urban Research and Innovations, University of Nairobi. Sharon has written articles and blog posts for MSN News, Ihamba Adventures, and Industry Biz. She joined Briefly.co.za as a Lifestyle Writer in October 2024, covering entertainment, sports, education, and finance. You can reach Sharon J. Boit by email at boit@gmail.com.
