Julius Malema sheds light on his open border policy: ‘This thing of borders is colonial’

South African politician and Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Commander-in-Chief Julius Malema expanded on his controversial policy in the political party’s manifesto regarding open borders in Africa.

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He shared an educational perspective on what stemmed his belief in open borders across the continent.

“No African in Africa is a foreigner”

Malema sat down with Nandi Madida on her podcast, The Motherhood Network, in an educational discussion around the meaning of Pan-Africanism. The opening line in the clip shared on TikTok was the most profound insight into his political belief system.

“I come from a position of love, a love for mothers and children,” the party leader stated.

He then said, “No African in Africa is a foreigner,” and expanded on the historical context of how borders in Africa were drawn in the first place, regarding them as a colonial construct.

“People [colonialists] go into a conference and take a decision to divide among themselves this continent, cut it into pieces. I don’t know whether they were drunk or sober; we don’t know what informed that,” he explained, referencing the Berlin Conference.

Malema then critiqued African leaders who still uphold these borders.

“The African leaders come, and they start putting fences. Then you say you are anti-colonialist, but you embrace colonial decisions.”

@themotherhoodnetworkza “No African in Africa is a foreigner.” Julius Malema argues that Africa’s modern borders are a product of colonialism and questions how Africans can call themselves anti-colonialist while continuing to embrace those divisions. Can you believe in Pan-Africanism while still acknowledging the realities South Africans are facing at home? 🎙️ Catch the full conversation with Julius Malema on The Motherhood Network this Sunday at 7 AM CAT #TheMotherhoodNetwork #JuliusMalema #EFF #NandiMadida #PanAfricanism #AntiColonialism #ForeignNationals #SouthAfrica #Africa #AfricanPolitics #SouthAfricanPolitics #ElectionSeries #podcasthoror ♬ original sound – The Motherhood Network

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Not enough resources

Nandi shared the counterargument held by many South African residents about sharing resources that barely sustain the average South African resident.

“Some people are saying that we just can’t take more people. This is not a story of Afro-phobia per se or being anti-immigrant; it’s a story that we don’t have ourselves,” she noted as she asked him what he had to say to that belief.

“You can’t be Pan-Africanist when it suits you,” the EFF leader stated boldly after Nandi shared her belief that many South Africans are Pan-Africanists at heart and modern-day circumstances stifle that philosophy.

Featured image: X/@TheTruthPanther

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