'They Fear the White Man!': Watch Malema's fiery May Day address on xenophobia

South African political activist and leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), Julius Malema, has criticised xenophobic attacks in South Africa, accusing citizens of redirecting their frustrations to other Africans in the country instead of directly confronting the issues that stem from the influence of white South Africans.

Addressing the Workers’ Day rally on May 1, 2026, at the Tlhapi Stadium in Wonderkop, Julius Malema delivered a passionate speech accusing his fellow nationals of harbouring a deep-seated fear of white nationals, while simultaneously directing their frustrations and "venting" toward African migrants.

“They are scared of white people… when they speak to a white person, they are very respectful. But when they speak to a Black person, they are violent,” he said.

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Malema questioned the effectiveness of anti-immigrant protests, arguing that they do not result in meaningful job creation for South Africans.

“After you march and say you don’t want Zimbabweans, Nigerians, or Ghanaians, why don’t you come back and tell us that you’ve created jobs for South Africans?” he asked.

“There is no such report because those are low-paying jobs that people don’t want,” he added.

He stressed that many jobs often associated with foreign nationals are poorly paid and lack basic benefits, noting that South Africans aspire to more secure employment with proper wages, pensions, and healthcare.

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The outspoken politician also linked current xenophobic violence to historical divisions created during apartheid, suggesting that similar patterns of “Black-on-Black violence” are being repeated. “The script is the same, and the writer is the same,” he said.

Watch Malema’s address in the video below

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