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Malema Calls for African Unity in Nigeria as Migration Debate Heats Up
Speaking to Nigerian lawyers
EFF leader Julius Malema has urged Africans to rethink how they see one another. Addressing a gathering of Nigerian lawyers in Enugu State over the weekend, Malema dismissed the idea that Nigerians and other migrants are responsible for South Africa’s unemployment crisis. He argued that xenophobia is not only misplaced but also dangerous.
“Xenophobia is a betrayal of African unity,” Malema said, adding that the real causes of South Africa’s struggles lie in deep inequality, poverty, and an economy still dominated by a white minority and multinational corporations.
One-way migration and Malema’s solution
Malema argued that Nigerians leave home to seek work in South Africa because African economies are not integrated. His solution: harmonise trade, simplify visa regimes, and create infrastructure that allows Africans to move and work freely on the continent.
“Young Nigerian engineers should be able to work in Johannesburg or Harare, not as foreigners, but as Africans contributing to Africa,” he said. He added that South Africans should also be able to do business in Nigeria without barriers.
A vision of Pan-Africanism
Malema’s message leaned heavily on Pan-African ideals. He called for one currency and one continental leadership, insisting that salvation would not come from foreign capitals like Washington or Brussels but from unity between Lagos and Johannesburg.
He reminded Nigerians that their country supported South Africa’s liberation struggle during apartheid. “Our liberation will remain incomplete if we ignore the struggles of others still suffering under exploitation and colonialism,” he said.
Pushback at home
While Malema’s speech drew applause in Nigeria, reactions back home have been mixed. Political analyst Theo Neethling told The Citizen that Malema risks confusing voters by moving between Pan-Africanist rhetoric and populist calls for prioritising South Africans in jobs. “This veering may weaken the coherence of the EFF’s message,” Neethling noted.
Operation Dudula, a movement known for its tough stance on migration, went further. Spokesperson Zandile Dabula said Malema was ignoring local frustrations over illegal immigration. “We are not against our African brothers and sisters; we are against illegality,” she said, adding that issues such as drugs and human trafficking cannot be brushed aside.
Why this matters in 2025
South Africa has faced repeated waves of xenophobic violence over the past two decades, with Nigerians often targeted. Malema’s speech is part of a broader call for African unity, but it also highlights the tension between Pan-African ideals and domestic pressures in South Africa. As migration remains a politically charged issue, Malema’s words in Nigeria may shape both continental debates and his party’s credibility at home.
Also read: Julius Malema calls for one Africa: single president, one currency, one army
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Source: The Citizen
Featured Image: NewsDay Zimbabwe
