Julius Malema, leader of South Africa’s Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), says he would happily turn to Nigeria and other African countries if the United States follows through on threats to restrict his visa.
Gatekeepers News reports that Malema made the remarks at a recent gathering in Johannesburg, where he outlined the EFF’s position ahead of its national general council and criticised what he described as the undue influence of Western nations on South Africa’s politics. The 44-year-old insisted that the country’s multi-party democracy must chart its own independent path.
The firebrand politician said the US government was threatening to limit his travel, but insisted he was unbothered. In a widely circulated video, Malema said Africa—rather than the West—remains his true home, and joked that he preferred Nigerian jollof rice to American fast food.
“Even if America decides that I should no longer enter America, it is okay, I will enter Zimbabwe, I will enter Botswana, I will enter Nigeria, I will enter Africa, my home,” he said.
“Why should I be concerned about people who are going to feed me burger and make me fat when I can go to Nigeria and eat jollof? So why must I fight for burger instead of jollof?”
Malema also recalled his August trip to Nigeria for the Nigerian Bar Association’s annual conference, during which he was treated to “nice jollof rice and delicious Nigerian pepper soup.”
“When we were in Nigeria, we were given a nice jollof rice and pepper soup. So you want to threaten me that you will not give me a visa to America or give me a visa to London? I do not care,” he added.
