EFF leader Julius Malema labels Trump a “modern-day Adolf Hitler” and calls for closer South Africa–China relations amid strained U.S. ties.
South Africa’s Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema has called on the government to prioritize closer ties with China, sharply criticizing the U.S. President Donald Trump as a “modern-day Adolf Hitler” in a press briefing on Wednesday.
Speaking in Johannesburg, Malema framed his party’s position on international relations, urging Pretoria to pivot away from what he described as a deteriorating relationship with Washington. He said South Africa’s engagement with the United States had soured over disagreements on foreign policy, including Pretoria’s stance against Israel and its participation in the BRICS economic bloc alongside China, Russia, Brazil, and India.
“Trump has taken a position against South Africa—not because of anything the EFF has done, but because of our government’s independent foreign policy,” Malema said, referencing a May meeting at the Oval Office during which Trump showed a video of Malema chanting the controversial liberation-era slogan “Kill the Boer.” The EFF leader insisted the footage was being used to distort South Africa’s image internationally.
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Malema highlighted the importance of diversifying South Africa’s economic and strategic partnerships. “We need to focus on internal investment, beneficiation of raw materials, and economic growth while strengthening relationships with nations that respect South Africa’s sovereignty,” he said.
China has long been South Africa’s largest trading partner, a position it has held for 16 consecutive years, while South Africa remains Beijing’s top partner on the African continent. Chinese investment in South Africa exceeds US$11 billion, creating approximately 400,000 jobs across sectors including manufacturing, energy, mining, and agriculture, according to Pan Qingjiang, Chinese Consul General in Johannesburg. He described the bilateral relationship as an “all-round strategic cooperative partnership in a new era.”
Malema also addressed domestic political dynamics, noting that the Democratic Alliance (DA), which had previously criticized South Africa’s engagement with China, had shifted its stance following recent visits to Beijing. He framed this as evidence that closer cooperation with China is broadly beneficial and feasible.
The remarks underscore the EFF’s commitment to reshaping South Africa’s global alliances amid heightened tensions with the United States, reflecting the party’s broader agenda of economic sovereignty and diversified international partnerships.