Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema is set to lead a protest march to the office of Northern Cape Premier Zamani Saul in Kimberley, calling for a review of Orania’s status. The march, scheduled for Tuesday, is part of the EFF’s campaign against what it describes as an “apartheid-era enclave” in democratic South Africa.
Orania, a privately owned town in the Northern Cape, is predominantly inhabited by white Afrikaners and has faced criticism for its policies promoting Afrikaner self-determination and cultural exclusivity. The EFF argues that the town contradicts South Africa’s constitutional values of unity and non-racialism.
“Orania is more than just a town—it is a direct challenge to the vision of a united South Africa,” Malema said during a recent briefing. “It upholds the very divisions we fought to dismantle.”
The protest follows unsuccessful discussions between the EFF, Orania’s leaders, and the Freedom Front Plus, a party advocating for Afrikaner cultural rights. With negotiations at a standstill, Malema has pledged to escalate efforts to challenge Orania’s legal status through parliamentary and legal avenues.
The EFF expects a large turnout of supporters from across the country, framing the protest as a decisive stand against racial segregation and inequality.
The Northern Cape government has not yet responded to the EFF’s demands. Political analysts suggest the issue could spark wider debates about cultural autonomy and the boundaries of self-determination in South Africa’s democracy.