Malema calls anti-immigrant protests ‘Afrophobia’

Added: 2026-05-30

[00:00:00]As Africa month commemorations are draw to a close, the EFF hosted its Africa Day summit under the theme towards African unity and economic freedom in our lifetime.

[00:00:12]Addressing delegates, Julius Malema weighed in on the recent wave of protest and linked it to undocumented immigration.

[00:00:20]>> All of this Southern Africa has built this economy that we are being told now, these people are taking our resources away.

[00:00:29]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 because our economy has always been dependent on neighboring county countries to give us that kind of a support.

[00:00:57]>> Malema also expressed the concern about how some countries have reacted to developments in South Africa while making calls for broader continental dialogue on the issue.

[00:01:09]>> We think it was too quick.

[00:01:12]We'll still resolve this.

[00:01:14]And president of Ghana should have given us you know, some time to really deal with this matter and and we'll get to the bottom of it. We we hope they'll come back to their senses. We we we we we we don't have to respond the same way they did. We need to pursue the diplomatic engagements with Ghana until we find one another. We don't think Ghana responded in a manner that really reinforces dialogue and diplomatic engagements.

[00:01:44]>> He further noted that Africa Day did not receive the level of recognition he believes it deserves in South Africa this year.

[00:01:53]>> We realize that this day is being a out.

[00:01:56]People want to create an impression that it doesn't even exist. I think after Thabo Mbeki's era, that's where this day became a sham. People no longer took it serious and and people no longer celebrated it.

[00:02:09]That's why we thought let's engage in it in a manner we did where we educate so that people appreciate where we come from how all of this came about and where we are and what is the possible future if we're to work together the way it was envisaged by those who came before us.

[00:02:34]>> Malema also pointed to a growing number of African countries relaxing visa requirements as part of efforts to deepen continental integration and promote the free movement of people and trade. He says Africa's challenges can best be addressed through unity, dialogue and collective action. Natasha Dete SABC News, Pretoria.