Home » Has EFF’s Julius Malema Gone Too Far With Racist Remarks?

Has EFF’s Julius Malema Gone Too Far With Racist Remarks?

South Africans of all political leanings and colours have come out against Economic Freedom Fighter (EFF) Leader Julius Malema’s latest apparent racist rant. At a time when the country is urgently seeking unity, relieved to be rid of the allegedly corrupt Jacob Zuma years and revived under the promising new leadership of President Cyril Ramaphosa; […]

By SAPeople Contributor
05-03-18 17:15
in Business

South Africans of all political leanings and colours have come out against Economic Freedom Fighter (EFF) Leader Julius Malema’s latest apparent racist rant.

At a time when the country is urgently seeking unity, relieved to be rid of the allegedly corrupt Jacob Zuma years and revived under the promising new leadership of President Cyril Ramaphosa; South Africans are desperate to hear of solutions that all can work for together to create a better SA.

Malema, who is currently enjoying a seemingly powerful position after his motion was passed in Parliament last week, bringing the country closer to land expropriation without compensation, has the opportunity right now to convince and further unite South Africans that this is the best solution for the entire country, and can be executed in a manner that is mutually beneficial for the sake of a peaceful, united and prosperous South Africa in the future.

But Malema has instead taken revenge on the Democratic Alliance (DA) for voting against his motion, moving to replace the DA’s Athol Trollip in Nelson Mandela Bay; and has fuelled division with seemingly anti-White rhetoric. His comments have been perceived by many to have crossed the line to an attack that is racially-charged and racially-divisive.

Civil rights organisation AfriForum says it will consult with its legal team over possible legal action against the EFF and its Malema, after alleged “racist remarks” that Malema made during a political gathering over the weekend.

Malema reportedly said that white people should be glad that the EFF did not call for a genocide.

Ernst Roets, Deputy CEO of AfriForum, says that these remarks should be considered within the context of Malema’s earlier statements that the EFF does not call for a genocide of white people “yet”.

“The EFF’s remarks are blatantly racist and offensive,” says Roets. AfriForum laid a complaint earlier this year against the EFF after supporters of this party sang a song with the words “white man, you must die” and “shoot to kill the Boere”.

The EFF’s leadership defended the song in public, adding that they were proud of their supporters’ actions.

Speaking at the EFF Voters Registration Campaign yesterday, Malema said: “All white people who are angry, who have insulted us and mobilised some of your people in the media, all of you can go to hell!” He added: “We don’t care about White feelings.”

Port Elizabeth vlogger Renaldo Gouws published a video (see below) saying it’s time South Africa dealt with Malema, and that no white person would get away with saying the same things about black people.

Black advocate Tyrone Maseko tweeted: “It’s time we condemned black people’s racism. Malema prejudicing Trollip on skin colour is nothing but racism. He can make whatever political decision but race is no justification for differentiation in this context.”

Malema has warned farmers than any farms mortgaged after December 2017 will not be paid for by the government; and warned banks to change their policies on bonds.

After white farmer, Dirk Steenkamp, was murdered in Vredefort in the Free State on Sunday, several South Africans – black and white – pleaded with Malema on social media to stop inciting hatred and a lack of respect between races.

Julius Malema: You can all go to hell. We don’t care about ‘White feelings’.