Julius Malema criticizes anti-immigration protests in South Africa, citing government distraction and local crime statistics
via GhanaWeb2 min read
South African opposition leader Julius Malema, head of the Economic Freedom Fighters Party, has strongly condemned anti-immigration protests in his country, labeling them "clownish and stupid." Speaking on Sky News, Malema asserted that these demonstrations are not xenophobia but rather "gangsterism sponsored by government" to divert attention from its failures. He claimed that corrupt individuals are exploiting foreign nationals. Malema also refuted allegations that foreign nationals, including Ghanaians and Nigerians, are responsible for a majority of crimes in South Africa. He stated that official records indicate South African men commit most crimes, including rape, and that foreign nationals are unfairly targeted. The protests, which occurred on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, saw anti-immigration groups demanding that "undocumented" African immigrants leave the country. During these events, Ghana's Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the death of a Ghanaian man shot in Cape Town. Multiple reports indicate hundreds of arrests were made across South Africa for attacks and looting, with nearly 250 arrests in the Eastern Cape and 10 in Delft, Cape Town, related to shop looting. One person was also killed in Durban during a storage facility break-in, which police are investigating.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by GhanaWeb.
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