Helen Zille will not retract her remarks about Julius Malema or apologise to him by close

[Politics]Correct

Helen Zille will not retract her remarks about Julius Malema or apologise to him by close of business on 11 November 2026, the deadline set by Malema's lawyers.

“we don't foresee that she's going to do the correct and ethical thing, which is to withdraw and apologize and commit to never make those statements again”

A guest · 702 · 702 Breakfast · 11 Nov 2026

The verdict· graded 12 Nov

Helen Zille refused to apologise to Julius Malema, and her lawyers rejected his demand for a retraction and public apology over her claims about his influence during Herman Mashaba's mayoral term.

Four passages dated 11 November 2026, the deadline day, report that Zille and her lawyers rejected the retraction and apology demand, which matches the prediction. The passages do not explicitly confirm the position held until close of business, but the formal rejection by her lawyers on the deadline day settles the claim.

4 sources

Reader poll: 100% said yes · 2 votes

A falsifiable call made on live South African radio, extracted from the broadcast transcript and tracked to its outcome against public sources — with its audio receipt. The reader poll is audience sentiment, not odds; there is nothing to wager on. How the prediction desk works