'Ghanaians don't rape our people; South Africans do' - Julius Malema

South African opposition leader Julius Malema has criticised anti-immigration protesters in the country who are calling for undocumented African nationals to leave South Africa.

Speaking in an interview with Sky News, on July 1, 2026, Julius Malema described the marches against foreign African nationals as “stupid”, adding that they are being organised by corrupt individuals who want to take advantage of foreign nationals.

He also claimed that the protests are being sponsored by the South African government, who he claims are using the protests to distract South Africans from its failings.

“It is clownish - clownish and stupid. There is no xenophobia in South Africa; it's just a group of charlatans, extortionists, disruptors, corrupt individuals who want to extort foreign nationals.

“It's not xenophobia; it's gangsterism sponsored by government. The government is fully informed to distract our people from many major issues. How can an ordinary person be handling a man in front of the police, because it's a crime on its own,” he said.

Malema, who is the leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters Party, also refuted assertions that the protests are demands of the anti-immigration groups are legitimate because foreign nationals, including Ghanaians and Nigerians, are responsible for the crimes in South Africa.

According to him, the records show that a vast majority of crimes in South Africa, including rape, are committed by South African men and not foreigners, as asserted.

“Let go and check the cases of rape: who raped South Africa? South African men. Who beats up South Africa's children? South African men. Majority of the prisoners there is not Zimbabwe, it's not Ghana, it's not Nigeria, it's not TRC, it's South African men,

“So when you say they are committing crime, why are they not in jail? Because they are not committing any crime, but they become an easy target,” she said.

Government confirms death of Ghanaian in South African xenophobic attacks, reveals his identity

About the protest and reports of violence:

Several anti-immigration groups in South Africa held massive protests across the country on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, the unofficial deadline they had given "undocumented" African immigrants to leave the country.

The government of Ghana, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, have confirmed that a Ghanaian man was shot dead during the protest in Cape Town.

According to multiple reports, the South African Police arrested hundreds of people across the country during the protests for attacking people, including South Africans, and looting shops. Some of the arrests were reportedly linked to acts of violence that led to the death of at least one person.

A report by South Africa-based RCM Radio indicated that nearly 250 arrests were made in the Eastern Cape alone, in addition to the arrest of 200 undocumented migrants.

The report also indicated that one person was killed in Durban after a break-in at a storage facility, which the police are investigating.

It added that 10 other people were also arrested in connection with the looting of shops in Delft, Cape Town.

Watch a video of Malema's remarks below:

Respect to Mr @Julius_S_Malema pic.twitter.com/ChLfNTnbCz

— Mike Karangwa (@mikekarangwa) June 30, 2026