Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema has strongly condemned xenophobic violence in South Africa, describing it as a “sickness” driven by poverty, inequality, and government failure.
Speaking on Sunday at the Nigerian Bar Association’s Annual General Conference in Enugu, Nigeria, Malema said Africans must embrace unity instead of turning on each other.
“Xenophobia is a sickness borne of poverty, inequality, and government failure,” he declared. “Africans must love themselves, not kill one another. Black people are not loved in Africa, and not loved abroad either, but we must learn to treat ourselves better.”
He stressed that Nigerians, Congolese, Zimbabweans, and other African nationals living in South Africa are not responsible for the country’s problems, warning that targeting them amounts to a betrayal of African solidarity.
Malema’s remarks come amid growing outrage over the activities of Operation Dudula, an anti-migrant group in South Africa. In July, the group sparked criticism after its members were caught on video blocking patients at a government hospital in Johannesburg, demanding proof of citizenship before granting entry.
Operation Dudula’s president, Zandile Dabula, also announced plans to extend the campaign to public schools in late December 2025 and early January 2026, vowing to prevent non-South African children from enrolling. She insisted the group would not interfere with private schools.
The group has long been accused of orchestrating violent campaigns against African migrants, particularly those from Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Malawi, and Mozambique.
South Africa has a history of deadly xenophobic attacks. In 2019, waves of violence in Johannesburg and Pretoria forced many foreigners, including Nigerians, to flee. Nigerian airline Air Peace evacuated hundreds of stranded citizens at no cost, with government support.
For many returnees, the violence meant abandoning businesses, homes, and even families, highlighting the deep scars left by recurring xenophobic tensions across the country.
