PRETORIA, Gauteng — Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema has intensified criticism of South African authorities, asserting that recent anti-immigrant unrest constitutes “Afrophobia” fueled by state inaction and historical divisions designed to fragment African unity.
During a press engagement following the EFF’s Africa Day summit, Malema contended that violence targeting foreign nationals echoes colonial strategies meant to pit African communities against one another. His comments arrive as protests over service delivery, governance shortcomings, and job scarcity unfold across KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, and the Free State—demonstrations that have increasingly included tensions around undocumented migration.
Malema alleged that police are failing in their duty to protect all residents, claiming that individuals perpetrating attacks operate “accompanied by the police” while state media and mainstream outlets amplify divisive messaging. “We’ve seen in many videos where people manhandle others in the presence of the police,” he stated, emphasizing that under South African law, such civilian actions could constitute assault and warrant police intervention.
He drew a direct line between current unrest and historical state-sponsored violence during South Africa’s transition to democracy, noting that similar tactics—exploiting tribal identities to foster conflict—are resurfacing in the same geographic areas. Malema criticized the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) for providing uncensored coverage of such activities, both in the past and present.
Challenging the economic narrative underpinning xenophobic sentiment, Malema dismissed claims that migrants are responsible for unemployment as “a myth” and “a lie” used to perpetuate colonial-era divisions. He underscored that Southern Africa’s infrastructure and development have long relied on labor from Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi, and beyond: “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 Zimbabweans, Mozambicans, Malawians and anyone else you can think of.”
Referencing the recent departure of approximately 300 Ghanaian nationals amid threats, Malema questioned the logic of scapegoating: “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 redirecting public frustration toward foreign nationals distracts from systemic failures to industrialize, beneficiate mineral resources, and combat corruption.
On Ghana’s diplomatic reaction to the violence, Malema expressed concern that the response was premature. “We think it was too quick,” he said, urging continued dialogue and patience. While acknowledging the legitimate fear and emotional distress experienced by targeted communities, he advised legally documented foreign nationals to seek safety at police stations while authorities address underlying causes.
Malema also questioned the silence of civil society organizations on incitement to violence. “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 asked, contrasting the lack of arrests in cases like the filmed beating of a Ghanaian man with the prosecution of individuals such as Duduzile Zuma for social media activity.
Turning to domestic accountability, Malema argued that political leaders benefit when public anger is misdirected toward migrants rather than focused on governance failures. “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,” he explained.
He further criticized escalating corruption under President Cyril Ramaphosa and the Government of National Unity (GNU), stating that inclusion of the Democratic Alliance has, in his view, expanded opportunities for misappropriation. Malema warned that with the ANC anticipating reduced electoral support—citing internal expectations of around 26%—some party members may prioritize personal enrichment over public service, worsening the nation’s crisis.
Malema concluded by reiterating the need for transformative economic policy, including state ownership of mineral resources to enable beneficiation and job creation. “You can’t industrialize without beneficiation. You can’t beneficiate that which you do not own,” he asserted, emphasizing that addressing inequality and governance failures—not targeting fellow Africans—is the only sustainable path forward.