By: Kenneth Appiah Bani
South African opposition leader Julius Malema has made an emotional appeal to Africans across the continent, urging them to forgive South Africans following renewed xenophobic attacks targeting foreign nationals, including Ghanaians and other African migrants.
Speaking passionately during a public address, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader expressed deep shame over the violence and hostility directed at fellow Africans living in South Africa.
“Find it in your good heart because Africans, you are good people. Find it in your good hearts to forgive us. We are sorry. We are ashamed of ourselves. And we sincerely apologize for this madness,” Malema said.
His remarks come amid growing outrage across Africa over repeated attacks on immigrants, the destruction of foreign-owned businesses, and rising anti-foreigner sentiment in parts of South Africa.
Malema pleaded with Africans not to paint all South Africans with the same brush, insisting that the violent acts are being carried out by criminal elements who do not represent the values of the majority.
“Please don’t treat all South Africans the same. We are dealing with these criminal elements who want to project us as people who do not love our own brothers and sisters,” he stated.
The outspoken politician condemned the closure of immigrant-owned shops and questioned the logic behind blaming foreigners for South Africa’s economic struggles and unemployment crisis.
According to him, violence against migrants has not created jobs or improved the economy in any meaningful way.
“What jobs have been created after attacking immigrants and shutting down their businesses?” Malema asked, arguing that exclusionary politics only deepens poverty, inequality, and social instability.
Malema also linked xenophobic hostility to the lasting psychological effects of apartheid, saying decades of racial oppression left behind a dangerous culture of division and superiority.
“Our oppressors, those who have taken away our brains and minds, are the ones who have instilled in us the hatred of our fellow African brothers and sisters. It is not of our own making,” he explained.
He admitted that many South Africans are still struggling to fully embrace their African identity and understand their place within the broader African family.
“We are still soul-searching as South Africans,” he added.
In one of the most emotional parts of his speech, Malema reminded South Africans of the sacrifices made by African nations during the apartheid struggle.
He recalled how countries such as Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Botswana, Lesotho, Zambia, Tanzania, Angola, and Eswatini opened their borders and welcomed South African freedom fighters despite the risks involved.
“The Nigerians opened their gates, Zimbabweans, Mozambicans, Swaziland, Botswana, Lesotho, Zambia, Tanzania, Angola. They opened their gates and welcomed us,” he said.
Malema specifically referenced the suffering endured by neighboring countries that faced military retaliation from the apartheid regime for sheltering anti-apartheid activists.
“The people of Lesotho were bombed and killed by the apartheid government looking for us,” he recalled.
Despite these attacks, he noted, African nations never abandoned South Africans during their darkest moments.
Malema concluded his address with a strong call for introspection and accountability among South Africans, warning that continued xenophobic violence betrays the solidarity once shown to South Africa by the rest of the continent.
“It is our turn now to say thank you to the continent. Instead, we are eating now, and we have forgotten where we come from,” he declared.
“You must do a thorough, thorough soul-searching, South Africans. You will realize that your acts are unacceptable.”
His comments have sparked widespread reactions across social media, with many Africans praising his honesty and courage in confronting xenophobia, while others insist that stronger action not just words is needed to protect immigrants and rebuild trust across the continent.
As tensions continue to rise, Malema’s message serves as a powerful reminder of Africa’s shared history, collective struggles, and the urgent need for unity in the face of division.
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