EFF leader Julius Malema has condemned recent anti-illegal migrant protests occurring across the country, describing the efforts of demonstrators as fighting over useless things.
Economic Arguments Against Mass Deportation
Speaking to EFF members during a Workers’ Day rally in Rustenburg on Friday, Malema questioned the actual impact these protests have on the unemployment crisis in South Africa. He challenged the logic that removing foreign nationals automatically creates opportunities for locals.
Malema specifically questioned why protesters, after closing shops owned by Nigerians, Ghanaians and Zimbabweans, could not demonstrate that expelling 10 Zimbabweans had resulted in 10 jobs for South Africans.
He characterized the roles often filled by migrants as exploitative slave’s jobs that do not pay well. According to Malema, citizens deserve proper jobs that include an appointment letter, a payslip, medical aid, and a pension.
Moral and Social Concerns
The EFF leader expressed strong opposition to the March and March Movement, which has been leading nationwide protests and demanding the mass deportation of undocumented foreign nationals.
Malema specifically criticized demands to remove foreign children from schools and pregnant women from clinics. He compared such actions to those taken during apartheid, stating he could not feel like a proud father while removing another black child from school.
He further warned that this trend of targeting foreigners could potentially escalate, suggesting that protesters might eventually turn on South Africans who do not speak Zulu.
Call for Legal Recourse
While Malema acknowledged that some foreign nationals commit crimes, he noted that South African citizens also commit crimes. He maintained that the law should be applied to anyone who breaks it, regardless of their documentation status.
He urged citizens to stop taking to the streets and instead direct their grievances to the department of home affairs to deal with illegal immigration through the law.
Potential Next Steps
Depending on the government’s response, there may be increased pressure on the department of home affairs to address documentation grievances. The tension between the March and March Movement and political leaders like Malema could lead to further public debates over the intersection of migration and unemployment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the demands of the March and March Movement?
The movement has been leading nationwide protests against undocumented foreign nationals and is demanding their mass deportation.
Why does Julius Malema believe removing foreigners won’t solve unemployment?
He argues that migrants perform exploitative jobs that South Africans do not seek, and that the removal of these individuals does not provide the proper jobs with pensions and medical aid that citizens deserve.
What is Malema’s suggested alternative to street protests?
He urged citizens to take their grievances to the department of home affairs and handle illegal immigration through the law.
Do you believe legal channels are sufficient to address the concerns of those protesting illegal immigration?
