Cape Town – American pastor and US President Donald Trump ally Mark Burns criticised EFF leader Julius Malema during a recent visit to South Africa, dismissing him as an attention-seeker who spreads division.
In a surprise move last month, Trump confronted President Cyril Ramaphosa by showing a video of Malema’s speech to back his claims of a so-called white genocide targeting farmers. Trump also raised concerns over why Malema had not faced arrest for his remarks.
Speaking during an interview with Newzroom Afrika, Burns condemned Malema’s chanting of “Kill the Boer, kill the farmer”, calling it unbiblical and harmful to national unity.
While acknowledging the song’s historical context and its legality, Burns argued it fuels racial tensions in a country still healing from apartheid.
He said that discussing Malema only gives him more publicity and urged the EFF leader to apologise for promoting hate.
Burns said Malema’s actions were designed to provoke rather than unite, and he questioned the value of engaging with someone “just screaming to garner attention”.
“The fact that we’re talking about him [Malema] is not even good because, you know, that’s spewing hate. Unless he wants to come and apologise and say, ‘you know what, pastor, you’re right, me singing that song is hurting my white brothers and sisters here in my beautiful nation, even though it is important, and it has historical evidence.’
“Yes, Mandela, whom President Trump spoke highly of, has great respect for him, and he spoke about him twice, did sing that song. Even your Constitutional [Court], I think, voted that it was his [Malema’s] legal right to sing the song, it’s still causing division in our nation, on a nation that is still pretty new from apartheid,” said Burns.
Despite Donald Trump referencing Malema in claims of white genocide, Burns said he found no evidence of such genocide during his visit.
Statement on White Genocide or White Farmers being Killed in South Africa:
I’m here in South Africa, meeting with White farmers, White business owners, and even some former Apartheid leaders, and here’s what they’re telling me: President Donald J. Trump is a great president, but… pic.twitter.com/1H48oBCDJv
— Pastor Mark Burns (@pastormarkburns) May 30, 2025
He maintained that far more black South Africans are victims of violence and called for unity among all racial groups in the country.
Malema, in response, has remained defiant, saying he will never stop singing the struggle song and refuses to be intimidated.
Speaking at a regional election recently, the EFF leader said the controversial lyrics were “the heritage of our struggle” and vowed to keep on using them.
Donald Trump, Cyril and Elon have been properly addressed today by the honourable Julius Malema. pic.twitter.com/TSDf0AhT4u
— m a s h è s h a 💨 (@_mashesha) May 25, 2025
“It is not my song. I did not compose this song,” Malema said in televised comments. “The struggle heroes composed this song. All I am doing it to defend the legacy of our struggle.”
“Therefore I will never stop singing” the song, he said. “That will be a betrayal to the struggle of our people.”
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
