In a bold response, hot on the heels to that of Mineral Resources Minister, Gwede Mantashe, to US President Donald Trump’s threats to suspend aid, EFF leader Julius Malema, has vowed that South Africa will forge ahead and expropriate land without compensation.
Trump’s warning came in a post on X, where he claimed that the South African government was confiscating land and treating certain classes of people unfairly.
Malema swiftly countered Trump’s statement, emphasising that South Africa’s sovereignty and independence would not be undermined.
“The statement by Donald Trump is offensive and undermines our sovereignty,” Malema declared.
“We want to make it categorically clear to the President of the USA that we are going to expropriate land without compensation and pursue legislative measures to do so— and no threat will stop us.”
The EFF has been at the forefront of calls for land expropriation without compensation, maintaining its importance for addressing historical injustices and promoting economic equality.
However, the land expropriation debate has sparked intense controversy, with the DA and other opposition parties threatening legal action over its constitutionality.
Malema suspects that the DA is behind Trump’s intervention, suggesting that the party is using its international connections to influence the US President.
Undeterred by Trump’s threats, Malema has urged the ANC not to be bullied.
“That’s why you’ve got this noise from Donald Trump,” Malema explained. “They are at the centre of that; they thought they were going to bully the ANC in that GNU (Government of National Unity), and the ANC would develop cold feet, but the ANC is pushing forward.”
Malema also reiterated his interest in joining the Government of National Unity, should relations between the ANC and DA sour.
“The ANC must know that we are at the doorstep,” Malema said.
“If the DA leaves, we are ready. There is no government that is going to collapse here because Helen Zille says so.”
Written by: Naomi Kobbie
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