PRETORIA. South Africa’s Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema has reignited his long-standing friction with the United States, declaring that he does not care about ever securing an American visa. Malema, a vocal critic of U.S. foreign policy on Africa, made the remarks while addressing supporters, insisting that no level of pressure from Washington will deter his activism.
Malema argued that his political stance naturally attracts hostility from the United States, which he accuses of opposing movements that challenge its interests on the continent.
“When we do that, you must know who we are doing that against: America. It will never like that. But are we going to retreat because America doesn’t want us to do that? Never,” he said.
The EFF leader added that individuals who confront U.S. influence often face sanctions or visa bans, but emphasised that he remains unfazed.
“Even if America decides that I should no longer enter America, it’s okay. I will enter Zimbabwe, I will enter Botswana, I will enter Nigeria, I will enter Africa, my home,” Malema said. “Why must I be concerned about people who are going to feed me burgers and make me fat when I can go to Nigeria and eat Jollof? You want to threaten me with visas? I don’t care.”
Malema’s comments come amid escalating diplomatic tensions between Washington and Pretoria following U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to skip the G20 Summit hosted in South Africa. The White House cited concerns over the alleged mistreatment of white farmers, a claim South Africa has repeatedly rejected as baseless.
Ramaphosa refused to transfer the G20 presidency to a U.S. embassy representative after Trump declined to attend the summit, prompting the American president to announce that South Africa would not be welcome at the 2026 G20 Summit in the United States.
The dispute over white farmers has become a flashpoint in U.S.–South Africa relations in recent months. The Trump administration has accused Pretoria of failing to protect white agricultural communities—allegations South Africa has labelled inflammatory and misleading.
The diplomatic rift forced President Cyril Ramaphosa to travel to the White House in May in an attempt to ease tensions. However, the meeting was marked by a public confrontation when Trump challenged Ramaphosa over Malema’s past statements.
“Why didn’t you arrest that man?” Trump asked on live television, referencing a controversial chant Malema once led. Ramaphosa responded that South Africa is a constitutional democracy that guarantees freedom of expression.
Trump also presented photos he alleged were of murdered white farmers in South Africa; the images were later found to have originated from conflict zones in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
Despite tightening immigration controls and restricting asylum applications, the Trump administration recently granted asylum to several white South Africans, claiming their lives were in danger. Pretoria has condemned the move, reiterating that there is no systemic targeting of any racial group in the country.