Trevor Noah addresses xenophobic attacks and ‘June 30’ deadline on his podcast

Trevor Noah addressed recent xenophobic attacks in South Africa and the so-called June 30 deadline for undocumented foreigners during an episode of his What Now? podcast, a clip from which has gone viral on social media.

Discussion on the podcast

On the episode Noah spoke with political commentator Hasan Piker and regular guest Eugene Khoza. The conversation ranged from international politics to developments in South Africa.

Claims about the EFF and the deadline

During the show, Eugene referred to an X post in which Piker called himself an “EFF loyalist.” Trevor asked Eugene how ordinary South Africans viewed the EFF and its leader, Julius Malema. Eugene said that Malema had lost support over his stance on illegal migration and claimed Malema’s efforts to expand the EFF into other African countries had failed.

Eugene also said that Malema had clashed with a social movement called March on March, which had set 30 June as a deadline for undocumented foreigners to leave South Africa, and said, “He is saying they must stay,” referring to Malema.

Responses and rebuttal

EFF MP Sinawo Thambo publicly dismissed Eugene’s remarks, tweeting that Noah’s guest was spreading misinformation about Malema and calling him an “idiot.” Thambo’s tweet said, in part:

“Trevor Noah, who is hardly in SA, is able to clarify to his idiot friend that xenophobic attacks happen every couple or so years in SA – yet the idiot in glasses continues to attempt to portray it as something that will be the downfall of Julius Malema.”

Noah on xenophobic attacks and non-violence

On the podcast Noah acknowledged that xenophobic attacks in South Africa are not new. The source notes he has avoided outright calls to confront vigilante groups on the show but has previously expressed support for calls to avoid violence.

The article cites a 2019 clip in which Julius Malema said:

“I am not going to join anyone who beats up an African person, I’m not part of that mess. I will never even support anyone who would stone a white person, it doesn’t matter the amount of disagreements we are having with them. It’s barbaric, it’s madness….It’s crime, and must be dealt with as such”.

Trevor Noah reacted to that statement at the time by tweeting: “I don’t always agree with Julius Malema, but this statement on xenophobic attacks in SA is perfect”.

Where the conversation landed

The podcast clip that highlighted these exchanges has been widely shared on social media. The discussion linked concerns about xenophobic violence, public debate over immigration and competing political narratives involving the EFF and activist groups that set the June 30 deadline.