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The Leader of South Africa’s Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), Julius Malema, has advocated for an Africa without borders.
Malema, while speaking to reporters in South Africa on Thursday, argues that deeper continental integration would strengthen security cooperation, improve migration management and reinforce African unity.
His remarks come at a time when anti-migrant tensions in South Africa are intensifying
According to the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader, a united Africa with integrated security and governance systems would make it easier for countries to manage migration and tackle crime without promoting xenophobia or division.
“Residing here, I’ve got a job there or this or that, whatever you’re here for, so that if there’s any wrongdoing and you are a suspect, we are able to locate you,” Malema said.
“And with a borderless Africa, when you have registered your name in your place of origin, we can even come and fetch you from your original country without a hassle, because we’ve got integrated security systems, we’ve got integrated military systems, we’ve got one legislature, we’ve got one president, one currency, and we’re trading with the world as a continent on its own.”
Malema said Africa should function as a united bloc similar to other regions of the world, stressing that closer political and economic cooperation would help reduce divisions among African countries.
The EFF leader also expressed concern that Africa Day and discussions of African unity are no longer receiving sufficient attention, particularly among younger generations.
“We realised that this day is being left out. People want to create an impression that it doesn’t even exist,” he said.
“I think after Thabo Mbeki’s era, that’s where this day became a shame. People no longer took it seriously and people no longer celebrated.”
According to Malema, his party has deliberately continued commemorating Africa Month through public engagement and political education to keep the ideals of Pan-Africanism alive.
“That’s why we thought, let’s engage in it in the manner we did, where we educate, so that people appreciate where we come from, how all of this came about, where we are, and what is the possible future if we are to work together the way it was envisaged by those who came before us,” he said.
Malema added that commemorating Africa Month is important in promoting solidarity among Africans and discouraging conflict and xenophobia across the continent.
“We are deliberately making sure that this day doesn’t die a natural death, because it is on days like this where we get to be reminded how much we relate with each other and will not easily be tempted to get into a fight, because when you see a black person, you see a brother, you see a sister, because we are one African continent.”
