Malema Shifts Stance on Immigration Amid Youth Unemployment Crisis

Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema has softened his long-held pro-immigration position, urging foreign nationals to seek jobs in their home countries instead of South Africa. The surprising shift came during the party’s Siyabonga Rally in Seshego, Limpopo, where Malema emphasized the need to prioritize local employment given South Africa’s 66.5% youth unemployment rate.

The EFF, once a rising challenger to the ANC, saw declining support in the 2024 elections—a trend some analysts link to Malema’s perceived leniency toward immigration. While the party’s working-class base has long criticized illegal immigration’s strain on jobs and services, Malema previously advocated for pan-African solidarity. His latest remarks signal a strategic pivot as the 2026 local elections approach.

Critics dismiss the reversal as a vote-grabbing tactic, noting the timing aligns with growing anti-immigration sentiment. Political observers suggest the EFF is attempting to reclaim disaffected supporters who’ve grown frustrated with unemployment and economic stagnation.

As South Africa’s political landscape evolves under the Government of National Unity, Malema’s recalibration highlights the delicate balance between ideological principles and electoral pragmatism. Whether this shift will revive the EFF’s fortunes—or alienate its pan-Africanist allies—remains to be seen.