Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema has labeled recent anti-immigrant unrest in South Africa as “Afrophobia,” warning that the violence reflects deeper divisions rooted in the continent’s colonial history and alleging state complicity in enabling attacks on foreign nationals.
Speaking at a media briefing following the party’s Africa Day summit in Pretoria, Malema argued that hostility toward foreign nationals is part of a broader colonial legacy designed to divide African nations. His remarks come amid protests across KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, and the Free State, where communities have demonstrated over poor service delivery, governance failures, unemployment, and tensions linked to undocumented migration.
Malema directly accused law enforcement of enabling violence, stating that perpetrators of attacks are “accompanied by the police” while state broadcasters and mainstream media provide “unlimited airtime to spread hate and to incite violence.” He cited video evidence showing civilians manhandling individuals in the presence of police, actions he described as potentially amounting to assault under South African law. “Police are duty-bound to intervene and make sure no civilian acts like a law enforcement officer if that person is not,” Malema said.
Drawing historical parallels, Malema referenced state-sponsored “black-on-black violence” during South Africa’s democratization process, noting that similar tactics—using tribal divisions to perpetuate hatred—are recurring in areas now experiencing xenophobic attacks. He criticized the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) for broadcasting such activities without censorship, both historically and currently.
Malema challenged the narrative that foreign nationals are responsible for South Africa’s unemployment crisis. “It’s just a myth. It’s a lie which they are using to further divide us to perpetuate colonial divisions that were created in the past,” he stated. He highlighted that Southern Africa’s economy was built with the labor of Zimbabweans, Mozambicans, Malawians, and others, noting that “there’s no building in Johannesburg or in any area where there’s development, a bridge or a dam that was built in this country without the hands” of migrants from neighboring countries.
Addressing the recent departure of approximately 300 Ghanaian nationals following threats, Malema posed a rhetorical question: “How many South Africans got those jobs that were taken by Ghanaians because Ghanaians are gone now? How many jobs were created after the Ghanaians have left?” He argued that scapegoating foreign nationals distracts from the government’s failure to address unemployment through industrialization, beneficiation of mineral resources, and combating corruption.
On Ghana’s diplomatic response to the violence, Malema expressed concern that the reaction was “too quick” and did not reinforce dialogue. “We think it was too quick. We will still resolve this,” he said, urging patience and continued diplomatic engagement. He acknowledged the emotional toll on affected communities but emphasized that legally documented foreign nationals should seek protection at police stations while authorities address the root causes.
Malema also criticized civil society organizations, asking, “Where are the NGOs? Where is AfriForum? Where are all these people to take these people to court and say this is incitement of violence? This is hate speech?” He contrasted the lack of arrests in cases like the beating of a Ghanaian man filmed on camera with the prosecution of individuals like Duduzile Zuma for social media posts.
Turning to domestic governance, Malema argued that political leaders redirect public frustration toward foreigners to avoid accountability for failing to create jobs or deliver services. “If I’m responsible to create jobs and then someone redirects that energy to say, ‘No, I’m unemployed not because the politicians don’t create jobs but because some Ghanaian, Mozambican, Congolese has taken a job’—that responsibility is being moved from me to someone else. It will excite me because at least I’m not in the limelight,” he said.
He further criticized corruption under President Cyril Ramaphosa and the Government of National Unity (GNU), stating that corruption has worsened with the Democratic Alliance’s participation. Malema warned that with the ANC anticipating reduced electoral support, some members may prioritize personal accumulation over public service, deepening South Africa’s crisis.
Malema concluded by urging a focus on transformative economic policies, including reclaiming ownership of mineral resources and pursuing industrialization. “You can’t industrialize without beneficiation. You can’t beneficiate that which you do not own,” he said, emphasizing that addressing inequality and governance failures—not targeting fellow Africans—is the path forward.
