“We Love Them”: Julius Malema Says He Can’t Imagine SA Without White People, Sparks Online Debate

• Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema explained why he does not want white people to leave South Africa
• The Commander-in-Chief of the Red Berets made the remarks at the party's Jazz Hour event in Johannesburg
• The comments drew sharp criticism online from South Africans who pointed to Malema's history of remarks

Byron Pillay, a Briefly News journalist, has dedicated a decade to reporting on the South African political landscape, crime, and social issues. He worked as a newspaper journalist for 10 years before transitioning to online.

GAUTENG — Julius Malema has sparked criticism online after he publicly stated that white South Africans should remain in the country, describing them as "neighbours" and "partners."

The Economic Freedom Fighters leader made the comments at the party's Jazz Hour event in Johannesburg on Thursday, 2 October 2026. Speaking at the event, Malema said he could not picture a South Africa without white people and insisted that the EFF holds no hatred towards them.

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"We do not hate white people; we love them, so much," he told the audience.

Malema's call for equality

While explaining his stance, Malema centred his address on a demand for racial equality rather than racial exclusion. He framed his position around access and representation, arguing that black South Africans deserve a seat at the table alongside white citizens.

"All we are saying is that White people must allow us at the table. We belong there. We do not belong on the floor and to eat the crumbs that fall from the table. We belong there collectively with them.

We are South Africans. They came here as visitors. They have naturalised now and there is nothing we can do," he said.

Malema also used Sandton and Alexandra as symbols of the inequality he says still defines the country. He argued that shared prosperity would only be possible once the economic gap between wealthy and poor neighbourhoods was addressed.

The EFF leader rejected the notion that his politics amount to anti-white sentiment, accusing critics of deliberately misrepresenting his message.

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"We want a South Africa of equals, and they hear me very well because I communicate in their language, but they deliberately decide to distort my message and create Swart Gevaar, fear-mongering that if these ones take over, you are done," he said.

Social media users react critically

The remarks were met with scepticism by many South Africans online, particularly given Malema's recent "Kill the Boer" chants at EFF events and his longstanding calls for land expropriation without compensation. AfriForum recently announced that it was taking EFF leader Julius Malema to court, alleging that he incited illegal land occupation.

@VanoSequestered wrote:

"Lol. Now that he realises the economic damage his beliefs are doing, all of a sudden he is just a boet expressing neighbourly love? This is what deception looks like."

@pink_bunny1999 responded:

"How sweet...can you stop singing about wanting to kill us now? And stop encouraging others from singing about killing us?"

@paddiclay asked:

"So, Julius, answer why exactly they should stay if they're to be vilified, blamed, denied opportunities and robbed of land by you and your followers when, if ever, you ever get power?"

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@vaalsprings simply put:

"But it is okay to sing songs about killing them?"

@beech33 wrote:

"Yip, otherwise there is nobody to blame, nobody to threaten, nobody to tax, nobody to take from, nobody to slaughter, no white privilege to keep the victim narrative going...and nobody to keep the lights on."

Malema says he's not intimidated by Afrikaners

Briefly News reported that Malema told supporters that he was not intimidated by young Afrikaner boys.

The EFF leader made the comments outside the East London Magistrate’s Court following his first day of pre-sentencing.

The Commander-in-Chief of the Red Berets also fired a slight jab at AfriForum, which laid the charges against him.

Source: Briefly News