WATCH | ‘You don’t have to mobilise along race,’ Malema warns rival parties

Malema

Johannesburg – EFF leader Julius Malema has warned political parties against mobilising voters along racial, ethnic or national lines, saying such politics are unsustainable and could ultimately hurt those promoting them.

Malema was speaking at an Arena Holdings political debate at Wits University on Thursday, ahead of South Africa’s 4 November 2026 local government elections. The debate brought together leaders from the ANC, DA, EFF, IFP and ActionSA to discuss issues including service delivery, coalition politics, immigration and governance.

Malema said South Africa’s constitutional order was based on bringing people together rather than dividing them.

“Any mobilisation that is based on division is unsustainable,” he said.

He warned that parties seeking electoral support through race or ethnicity could face consequences at the polls.

“To go anywhere and mobilise people on the basis of ethnicity or colour is something that is going to backfire very badly for those who are leading those kinds of mobilisations,” Malema said.

The EFF leader also criticised xenophobia and vigilantism, saying ordinary citizens should not take it upon themselves to determine who is legally entitled to be in South Africa.

“It is extremely wrong to encourage lawlessness and vigilantism and say a civilian must go around asking people whether they are South Africans or not,” he said.

Malema said people could be wrongly targeted based on their language, accent or appearance.

“You don’t have to mobilise people along tribes, along nationality, along race,” he said.

The debate also saw Malema clash with DA leader Geordin Hill-Lewis over coalition governance and allegations concerning the EFF’s role in municipalities.

Picture: X/@EFFSouthAfrica

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Compiled by Betha Madhomu

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