Latest news with #Malema
The Citizen
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Citizen
‘He's talking rubbish,' Malema responds to Shivambu's comments on EFF
Shivambu claims the MK party can successfully recruit EFF members. EFF leader Julius Malema has responded to MK party secretary-general Floyd Shivambu's comments about EFF leaders. In an interview with the SABC on Wednesday, Shivambu dismissed claims that the MK party was out to destroy the EFF. He, however, said his party could successfully recruit EFF leaders if it wished. 'I'm the one who took the decision to join the MK party, I was not recruited. I went to join the MK party. I approached the MK party to become an ordinary member,' Shivambu told SABC. ALSO READ: 'My brothers turned against me': Malema addresses 'betrayals' 'There is no one who is destroying the EFF. If there was an intention to do so, we could have a programme to recruit members of the EFF to join MK party, which we can successfully do so, by the way, including the national officials of the EFF, we can be able to recruit them. Because a lot of them, when we appraised them before we joined the MK, understood squarely and fairly that it had to be done in that particular way. Including provincial and regional leaders.' Shivambu said, however, that the focus of his party was to unite 'progressive forces', not destroy them 'It can be done, but we're not in a mission of trying to destroy the EFF. We're on a mission to make a political and ideological organisational decision and discussion on how we can unite the progressive forces.' ALSO READ: Mbuyiseni Ndlozi resigns from Julius Malema's EFF: Here's what he is doing next Responding to the comments, Malema said Shivambu was 'talking rubbish'. Malema: EFF and MK party will not join forces In March, the MK party and the African Transformation Movement (ATM) agreed to collaborate on all political, community, and parliamentary programmes and activities. 'We jointly call on all progressive political formations and individuals in South Africa to support and associate with the revolutionary and long overdue efforts to unify all the progressive forces. Unity is the most important weapon in the war against colonialism and for the total emancipation and freedom of our people,' said the two parties in a statement. ALSO READ: Even Zuma was better than Trump – Malema Following President Cyril Ramaphosa's visit to the US, where Minister of Agriculture and DA leader John Steenhuisen told US President Donald Trump that his party and the ANC were working together to keep the MK party and EFF out of power, there were calls for the latter parties to join forces. However, Malema at the time told his followers it would not happen. Shivambu left the EFF in August last year, completely blind siding Malema. The two have not had kind words to say of each other since then. READ NEXT: 'Older men gossiping about me': Malema reacts to Ramaphosa-Trump meeting after Kill the Boer videos
The Citizen
5 days ago
- Business
- The Citizen
Why Trump's trade war is hurting the world
Trump's tariffs are not just harming China and SA, but the entire global economy. It's time for new alliances and strategies. EFF leader Julius Malema has found a refreshing way of describing how US President Donald Trump's condescending manner of dealing with other world leaders, including President Cyril Ramaphosa, has become. According to Malema, himself on Trump's radar for chanting a liberation-era slogan, which our apex court has found nothing wrong with, says: 'Being summoned to the White House is like teachers being called to the office of the principal.' As seen during the recent meeting with Ramaphosa, in holding a conversation with Trump, you brace yourself for anything. Trump's arsenal includes being ambushed with false photographs depicting a 'genocide', to being bombarded by an old footage of Malema addressing EFF supporters. All driven to show the world 'how bad things are in South Africa'. Amid all this insanity, backed by insults, one has to admire China for standing up to the Trump's expensive experiments. With the April Trump-imposed 'reciprocal tariffs', on nearly every trading partner, US rates on Chinese goods soared up to 145% – the highest in a century. But this has failed to dampen the fighting spirit of the world's second-largest economy. ALSO READ: Trump's Apple tariff threat expanded to other smartphones Despite optimistic signals from China-US trade talks in Geneva, the damage to global trade has become irreversible. As Beijing-based international affairs expert Hui Fan, has observed: 'In the heart of Cupertino, Apple engineers are scrambling to redesign the iPhone 17. 'Why? 'US semiconductor tariffs have ignited a fire under production costs. But here is the kicker: your smartphone is a United Nations of tech, with its brain born in California. 'Its face crafted in the Republic of Korea and its body assembled in China. 'This intricate web of international collaboration is the hallmark of globalisation – a system that has driven economic growth and innovation for decades. But, now, this delicate balance is under threat.' Blame all this mess on Trump – the school principal gone berserk. ALSO READ: WATCH: SA should know what leverage it has on the US and act on it, Rasool says The World Trade Organisation (WTO) has issued a warning that US tariffs could shrink global trade by 1.5% this year, with North American exports plummeting by a staggering 12.6%. Ironically, after World War II, a global conflict that lasted from 1939 to 1945, pitting the Allied powers of France, Great Britain, the Soviet Union, the US and China against the Axis of Germany, Italy and Japan, it was America that engineered the Bretton Woods system and the WTO. The US wanted to institutionalise free trade – cleverly embedding its economic dominance into multilateral trade rules. The system fuelled unprecedented growth: the US gross domestic product tripled from $10 trillion in 2000 to $27 trillion in 2023 – while multinational giants like Exon and Apple thrived on global supply chains. Now, Trump is dismantling the system built by his predecessors. If this is about the rise of the Chinese economy and that of other developing nations, the US dominance faces erosion, sparking a political backlash. Faced with pressure, some US politicians have now seen globalisation as the scapegoat – casting China as 'a free rider gaming the system'. ALSO READ: Experts warn South Africa cannot afford tariff showdown In explaining flaws in the US narrative, Hui says it 'overlooks deeper structural flaws'. 'Automation and corporate offshoring – not trade – have displaced workers, while tax policies favour capital over labour,' says Hui. 'With elites capturing the gains of globalisation, wealth inequality has soared, with the wealthiest 1% holding 30.8% of US net wealth, as of 2024.' For South Africa, it is time to find new markets and deepening relations with Brics countries – away from the White House humiliation.
The South African
5 days ago
- Politics
- The South African
Julius Malema: The unbreakable politician FINALLY held accountable?
After years of controversy, defiance, and avoiding consequences, Julius Malema faces a public apology. Is this a new era for accountability in South African politics, or just a one-off? THEE Sama Sambit, a contributor on Rob Hersov's Truth Report News YouTube channel, delves deeper in the video below: THEE Sama Sambit has emerged as one of the most conservative voices in South Africa. Relaxed against his trademark throw pillow, Sama calls out the ills of South African society. The content creator, whose real name remains anonymous, has criticised the chaotic South African education sector, unruly youngsters, and hypocritical behaviour by celebrities, politicians, and the black community. With nearly 50 000 subscribers on his YouTube channel, he has garnered a significant following for his thought-provoking commentary and analysis. Julius Malema's political journey began remarkably early. He joined the African National Congress (ANC) Youth League at the age of nine, reportedly tasked with removing National Party posters. His rise through the ranks was rapid, eventually becoming president of the ANC Youth League in 2008. Before becoming one of former President Jacob Zuma's harshest critics, Malema was a staunch supporter. He famously said he was 'prepared to kill for Zuma' in 2008. Their relationship soured in later years, with Julius Malema eventually leading calls for Zuma's resignation over corruption scandals. In 2012, Malema was expelled from the ANC for sowing division and bringing the party into disrepute. This led to the founding of the EFF in 2013 – a move that drastically reshaped South Africa's political landscape by creating a vocal, leftist opposition force advocating for land expropriation and economic justice. Despite public scrutiny of his academic credentials in the past, Julius Malema has steadily pursued higher education. He holds a BA in Communications and African Languages and later completed an Honours and then a Master's degree in Philosophy through the University of South Africa (UNISA). Malema has been involved in several legal challenges, including charges related to hate speech and corruption. Despite this, he's remained a resilient political figure. Interestingly, his distinctive red beret and EFF regalia have also made him a fashion icon of sorts, often drawing as much attention as his rhetoric. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
South Africa's president pushes back on Trump's demand to arrest politician who chanted 'kill the farmer'
JOHANNESBURG – South African President Cyril Ramaphosa hit back Tuesday against President Donald Trump's demand that opposition politician Julius Malema should be arrested, for repeatedly chanting "kill the farmer." Also on Tuesday, a senior politician within South Africa's government told Fox News Digital the chant "inflamed hatred" and called for "legal consequences." In the White House Oval Office last week, President Trump had a video showing Malema making the chant shown to the then-visiting Ramaphosa. Trump told the South African leader that Malema should be arrested. On Sunday, Malema, leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) political party, which drew just under 10% of the vote in last May's South African election and is not part of the government of national unity, told a crowd of thousands at a rally in South Africa's Free State, "I will never be intimidated by Donald Trump." Trump's Criticism Of South Africa's Violent Crime Crisis Receives Unexpected Local Support Just four days after the president's call that he should be arrested, Malema launched into the chant again, shouting to cheers "Shoot to kill. Kill the Boer (Afrikaans farmer), the farmer." The Afrikaners are descendants of mostly Dutch settlers who first arrived in South Africa in 1652. Read On The Fox News App Appearing to want to emphasize defiance, Malema then chanted "I repeat, kill the Boer, the farmer." Reacting to President Trump calling for Malema's arrest, President Ramaphosa on Tuesday told reporters there are no plans to detain the EFF leader. "It's not a matter where we need to be instructed by anyone (to) go and arrest this one. (Malema) We are a very proud sovereign country that has its own laws, that has its own processes." Ramaphosa continued that South Africa's equivalent of the Supreme Court, the Constitutional Court, had decided in 2022 the slogan "kill the Boer, kill the farmer" was only a decades-old "liberation chant and slogan, and it's not meant to be a message that elicits or calls upon anyone to go and be killed, and that is what our court decided." Critics point out that Malema sits on South Africa's Judicial Services Commission – the body that appoints judges here. Trump Confronts South African President With Video On Treatment Of White Farmers All of this is against the background of President Trump accusing South Africa of genocide against farmers and inviting so far 49 Whites to fly to the U.S. as refugees. "That chant has no place in a democratic South Africa," the Democratic Alliance (DA) party's Ian Cameron told Fox News Digital. The DA is South Africa's main opposition party. They are members of the government of national unity, with Cameron serving as chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Police. Cameron said that Malema singing the chant again this past weekend was "continuing to divide society and inflame hatred and mistrust. (It) plays a specific role in why farm attacks in South Africa are so unique: while brutal attacks continue in rural areas, he sings that song with pride, and many of his supporters openly celebrate the violence on social media." "I do believe that Julius Malema's repeated incitement—especially through songs like 'Kill the Boer', crosses a dangerous and unacceptable line," Cameron continued. "Freedom of speech is a cornerstone of democracy, but it cannot be used as a shield for promoting violence. At the very least, there should be legal consequences for incitement of violence, and our justice system must act without fear or favor." Ramaphosa said he was not going to have people arrested "willy nilly," adding on Tuesday, "we are a country where freedom of expression is the bedrock of our constitutional arrangement." None of this has phased Malema, who is on record saying, "I will sing the song as and when I like." Fox News Digital reached out to Malema but received no response. Attacks on both White and Black farmers here are real. Cameron told Fox News Digital, "I've personally stood in the aftermath of these attacks. I've walked into scenes that resembled abattoirs. I remember one farm where the victim's fingernail marks were still embedded in the carpet from where he was dragged and tortured. These are not ordinary crimes and often include disproportionate violence."Original article source: South Africa's president pushes back on Trump's demand to arrest politician who chanted 'kill the farmer'
The Star
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
Ramaphosa stands firm against Trump: 'We will not arrest Malema over Kill the Boer'
Simon Majadibodu | Published 1 day ago President Cyril Ramaphosa has responded to United States President Donald Trump confronting him with clips of EFF leader Julius Malema chanting 'Kill the boer,' saying that South Africa will not be instructed by any foreign leader on whom it should arrest. 'When it comes to the issue of arresting anyone for any slogan, that is a sovereign issue,' Ramaphosa told the media on Tuesday on the sidelines of the Sustainable Infrastructure Development Symposium South Africa (SIDSSA) conference in Cape Town 'It's not a matter where we need to be instructed by anyone to go and arrest this one.' Ramaphosa defended the controversial 'Kill the boer, kill the farmer' chant, often sung by Malema, and called it a liberation song. 'We are a very proud, sovereign country that has its laws, that has its processes, and we take into account what the constitutional courts also decided.' 'The slogan, kill the boer, kill the farmer, is a liberation chant and slogan.' 'That's not meant to be a message that elicits or calls upon anyone to go and be killed. And that is what our court decided,' he added. He warned against external attempts to influence South Africa's legal system. 'We follow the dictates of our constitution because we are a constitutional state and we are a country where freedom of expression is the bedrock of our constitutional arrangement.' Ramaphosa's comments come after Trump called for the arrest of Malema over his use of the controversial 'Kill the Boer' chant, escalating already strained relations between the two countries. Trump made the remarks during the meeting with President Ramaphosa at the White House. The meeting aimed to address growing diplomatic and economic tensions. During the discussion, Democratic Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen told Trump, top US officials, and media that his party joined the Government of National Unity to prevent certain political parties, particularly the EFF and uMkhonto weSizwe, from entering government. In an explosive start to the talks, Trump sharply criticised what he described as the targeting of Afrikaner farmers. His comments were based on a video clip showing Malema speaking in Parliament about land reform. The EFF claims the clip was misused to support a misleading narrative. On Sunday, IOL News reported that just days after Trump called on Ramaphosa to arrest Malema for singing the controversial 'Kill the Boer' chant, Malema once again led the song on Sunday and vowed to continue doing so. 'I'm not going to be silenced by the threat of violence. I'm not going to be silenced by the threat of death,' he said. Malema made the remarks on Sunday at the Mminara Sports Ground in Kwakwatsi, Free State, ahead of local by-elections this week. 'When you say 'don't tell him,' Ramaphosa should have said, 'In South Africa, we don't tell people like that.' There are codes in South Africa, and the codes have said there is nothing wrong with this song,' he said. Malema said he neither owns nor composed the song, which has been widely criticised for inciting violence. 'This is not my song. I did not compose this song. I found this song; the struggle heroes composed this song. All I'm doing is defending the legacy of our struggle…,' he said. He described the chant as a part of South Africa's liberation heritage. 'This is the song that was sung by Peter Mokaba in the presence of Chris Hani, in the presence of Winnie Mandela,' Malema said. 'And therefore, I will never stop singing a song that Winnie Mandela sang before she died. That would be a betrayal of the struggle of our people.' [email protected] IOL Politics
