Latest news with #EconomicFreedomFighter
The South African
07-07-2025
- Politics
- The South African
'This is my portfolio': John Steenhuisen, wife take on Durban July
Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen has jokingly defended his decision to attend the Durban July, a popular horseracing and fashion event on the social calendar. The 49-year-old leader of the Democratic Alliance and his wife, Terry, wore matching ensembles in the day's theme of 'Marvels of Mzansi'. Speaking to content creator and fashion designer Craig Jacobs, Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen and his wife Terry showed off their Durban July looks. Terry wore a coat dress featuring a navy shweshwe print, while John donned a suit with a matching tie. When asked about the DA's decision to withdraw from the national dialogue, John laughed and responded, 'We're not talking about that today.' John added that he was en route to place a bet for one of the races, specifically on an 'outsider.' When asked if he felt like an outsider at the event, John responded, 'Not at all. I feel very much at home. This is my portfolio.' @craigsalist Spotted DA leader (and minister for agriculture) John Steenhuisen at the Durban July #TheAListers #CraigsAList ♬ original sound – CraigsAList It's not the first time John Steenuisen attended the Durban July, in 2010 and 20111. In 2013, he walked the red carpet event with Terry, his then-fiancée. While John Steenhuisen put his best fashion foot forward at the Durban July, red carpet regular Julius Malema was nowhere to be found. The Economic Freedom Fighter leader is known for his expensive taste in fashion, especially for five-star events. A year ago, the Minister of Agriculture condemned Malema and his then-right-hand man, Floyd Shivambu, for 'spending VBS money at the Durban July'. He said during a media briefing: 'The money was not spent on social good, projects that would uplift and save the poor. Instead it was spent on luxury items, splurges at the Durban July on campaign, and other luxury goods. 'It shows that the EFF has no intention of being the vanguard of the poor. This is a mask that they use to justify the types of activities that they get up to'. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 . Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp , Facebook , X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
22-06-2025
- Politics
- The South African
Malema slammed for singing 'Kill The Boer' at mass funeral
Economic Freedom Fighter (EFF) leader Julius Malema has been criticised for singing Kill The Boer at the mass funeral for those who died in a bus crash earlier this week. Ten people – EFF members – died in a head-on collision near Ulundi, KwaZulu-Natal, while returning home after a June 16 rally in Durban on Monday. Malema has been condemned by his critics – including US President Donald Trump and the world's richest man, Elon Musk – for his decision to back the controversial struggle song. On Sunday, Julius Malema attended the mass funeral of 10 EFF members who were killed in a KZN bus crash. The bus tragically collided with a truck on the R34 near Ulundi in KZN. The funeral – dubbed the June 16 battalion – took place in Vryheid and was attended by the party leader and his leadership. Malema told the crowd of those who had died in the horror crash: 'They died while in pursuit of life. They were travelling with hope in their hearts. But the journey that should have taken them toward opportunity ended in tragedy.' Malema – who used the opportunity to mobilise EFF party members – promised to build a house for the families of those who had died. As he does with many rallies, Malema closed the event by singing Kill The Boer. However, his decision left many South Africans on social media questioning the timing and choice of song. @LangelihleMaph1: 'If there's no connection between these deaths and the Boer, why sing the song?' @MariaJacob49230: 'No respect for the dead, Julius Malema? You're at a funeral, not a political rally! This has been an occasion for a Psalm.' @muzizaks: 'What shameful display for lack of sense of occasion'. Meanwhile, Gayton McKenzie has condemned the EFF and Julius Malema for their decision to sing Kill The Boer. Speaking at the welcoming party for the Proteas at OR Tambo International Airport, the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture claimed that the anti-Apartheid song had no place in modern-day society. He said of the national cricket team, which recently won the ICC World Test Championships: 'This country has amazing sportspeople, and it is the greatest sporting nation in the world. If you do not agree with me, or if you want to argue with me, I do not argue with idiots. EFF leader Julius Malema and party leadership in Free State. Image: X/@EFFSouthAfrica 'Today, we had Black, Indian, White, and Coloured kids singing the Temba Bavuma song. Why should we worry about nonsense like Kill The Boer? These players [Proteas] will go places because we have the best team ever. 'Those people who are singing the Kill The Boer song are idiots'. He added in an X post: 'They are the biggest idiots, the current South Africa has no place for such a song. It has no value and contributes nothing towards the SA we are trying to construct. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 . Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp , Facebook , X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
11-06-2025
- Politics
- The South African
Mandela's grandson wants Afrikaner 'refugees' criminally charged
Nelson Mandela's 'great-grandson,' Mayibuye Mandela, has called for authorities to press charges against the two groups of Afrikaner 'refugees' who left South Africa for the US. He's also calling on the Department of Home Affairs to revoke their citizenship. The refugees are part of President Trump's resettlement programme offered to South African minority races who have experienced 'persecution'. In a media statement, Mayibuye Mandela – an outspoken member of the Economic Freedom Fighter (EFF) party – shared his strong opinions about white Afrikaner South Africans who had taken up refugee status in the US. He said, 'Revoke their citizenship. Strip them of the right to call themselves South African. 'They have betrayed this country, they have lied about our people, they have attempted to spark international hatred toward our nation. They must never again benefit from the privileges of this republic.' Two groups of Afrikaner 'refugees' have resettled in the US. Images via X: @usembassysa Addressing President Trump, he continued: 'If more of them want to leave, do not waste your planes. Provide a ship. Give them space and let them live in peace. South Africa will not beg racists to stay. Let them go and let them stay gone. 'And as they go, we as a nation must act.' On his X account, Mayibuye Mandela clapped back at critics of his comments. He posted: 'This is our country. We will fight for it, protect its dignity, and defend its people no matter the cost.' Who exactly is the outspoken member of the Mandela family? According to his own admission, Mayibuye is not the literal great-grandson of Nelson Mandela, but rather that of the late president's sister Baliwe. However, he told TimesLive: 'Yes, I am the great-grandson of Nelson Mandela, traditionally and in other ways; you can't do anything [about that]. Those discussions are not going to put bread and milk on my table. Mayibuye did, however, admit that he did not have a close relationship with the freedom fighter. He continued: 'We had a family relationship like anyone else. We would go to dinner, go for breakfast, we'd meet him here and there, and he was too old.' Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp , Facebook , X, and Bluesky for the latest news. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 .
Eyewitness News
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Eyewitness News
EFF's Mente calls for full implementation of SADC Model Law on Eradicating Child Marriage
JOHANNESBURG - The Economic Freedom Fighter (EFF)'s Veronica Mente has called for the full implementation of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Model Law on Eradicating Child Marriages. Mente tabled the motion at the 57th SADC Parliamentary Forum in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, over the weekend. The meeting wrapped up on Sunday, with the adoption of several key resolutions on artificial intelligence and its impact on the work of legislatures. Earlier in the week, the speaker of the National Assembly and leader of the South African delegation, Thoko Didiza, presented South Africa's country report. The report highlighted the progress made in implementing resolutions adopted at the 56th plenary assembly, held in December 2024 in Zambia. This includes Africa's efforts to leverage technology and innovation in building a smart, inclusive, and responsive parliament. This time around, the South African delegation submitted three motions - one on strengthening cyber security in the SADC region, another on increasing efforts to prevent the spread and impact of HIV/Aids and a motion by Mente to combat child marriages. 'This practice continues to deny young millions of young girls their rights to health, education, and to the well-being of all the girls, and it is perpetuating a cycle of poverty and gender inequality.' According to the United Nations Children's Fund [UNICEF], in eastern and southern Africa, 35% of women are married before the age of 18.
![‘Kill The Boer' sung by ‘African Americans'?[video]](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thesouthafrican.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2025%2F06%2FA-viral-video-showed-a-group-of-African-Americans-singing-Kill-The-Boer.jpg.optimal.jpg&w=3840&q=100)
The South African
05-06-2025
- Politics
- The South African
‘Kill The Boer' sung by ‘African Americans'?[video]
A viral video showed a group of 'African Americans' singing 'Kill The Boer'. Images via X : @ali_naka/ @effsouthafrica A clip of a group of black people singing Kill The Boer – presumably in the US – has gone viral on social media. Recently sung by Economic Freedom Fighter leader Julius Malema, the anti-Apartheid song has been accused of having 'racist' connotations. Last month, US President Donald Trump publicly condemned the 'call to action'. Pretoria-born billionaire businessman and UK media personality Piers Morgan have also criticised the song. 'KILL THE BOER' SUNG ABROAD On social media, a clip of black people singing along to Kill The Boer has gone viral. In the video, the crowd, many of whom wear traditional African garments, are seen dancing and singing the tune to the anti-struggle song. Although some claim that the people in the video were African Americans, it's unconfirmed if the video was taken in the US. However, a flag representing Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) – an organisarion celebrating black Americans in the US – was spotted in the background. The video has many social media users questioning Julius Malema's influence as far as the US. 'FREEDOM OF SPEECH' According to a 2022 ruling, the Equality Court found that Kill The Boer was not considered hate speech. In March, the Constitutional Court – the highest in South Africa – rejected AfriForum's appeal, stating that the song deserved to be protected under freedom of speech. Julius Malema sings Kill The Boer at a political rally. This comes after US President Donald Trump called for his arrest. Images via X: @effsouthafrica WHO SANG IT FIRST? Kill The Boer – titled Dubul' ibhunu – made headlines when anti-Apartheid activist Peter Mokaba sang the song at a memorial for his assassinated comrade, Peter Mokaba, in 1993. It was also sung by former South African President Jacob Zuma during many ANC events. Over the years, Malema has also sang the controversial song at various EFF political rallies. WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON 'KILL THE BOER' Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
