One of the biggest stories in South Africa this year has been the wave of anti-immigration protests, including xenophobic violence and grotesque violations of human rights, that culminated in nationwide marches against illegal immigration on June 30. Johannesburg is a hotspot of anti-immigration sentiment, as many illegal immigrants end up in the nation's economic capital.
2026 is an election year and the most watched race in the country is Johannesburg. The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) are the far left Marxist party of Julius Malema, a firebrand leader who indulges in and has been found guilty of hate speech against White South Africans.
The EFF is a fiercely pan-Africanist organisation. They advocate for open borders and a single, federalised African government. Julius Malema once even encouraged Zimbabweans to find "creative" ways to enter South Africa – some would say he was encouraging illegal immigration. They have tried at times to moderate a little bit, but by and large they are the unapologetically pro-immigration party in South Africa. They have described many of the organisations involved in the June 30th march as hooligans and thugs.
Now, their mayoral candidate for Johannesburg has attracted criticism for her defence of migrant rights and her criticism of the groups who marched on June 30. She has said that no person is "illegal" and compare treatment of illegal immigrants to Apartheid.
Dr Tlaleng Mofokeng is a medical doctor who has served in the UN as the special rapporteur for the right to health. She speaks publicly about sexual health and has advocated for the right to abortion, as well as for trans rights (see links at the end).
This story is interesting because it can help you understand how it is a left leaning student can find themselves in support of the EFF. Two of this sub's core, non-negotiable positions are pro-immigration and pro-trans rights. On this sub, these rights are championed regardless of whatever the U.S. Democratic party is saying, and this sub is (proudly) extreme in this regard. On these two issues, there is only one party that goes as far as we do: the EFF.
We largely disagree with the EFF on their far left economic beliefs around nationalisation, but of course a leftist student would sincerely disagree with our view of economics. The place where we could fairly ask that student to be more critical of the EFF is their racist statements against White South Africans.
Right now, the major social issue in South Africa is persecution of immigrants. The EFF is the party that is speaking out the most about this. For many people, especially young people, this would show that they are "the good guys" – they are fighting for the most vulnerable. This is why it is not as easy as it seems to convince someone that they are "the bad guys".
The EFF's racism should rule them out from being considered a serious and legitimate option, even if you are a leftist. But you will struggle to get their voters to stop supporting them if you are unable to see the things about them that are somewhat admirable. You cannot just show that they are racist. You have to show that even though they have their genuine virtues, the racism is disqualifying. If you don't, you will come across as not understanding why people vote for them in the first place, and what would be lost if there were no EFF. You have to show that we can preserve those things without condoning the racism, because it is inexcusable. But if you don't see what is being lost by throwing them away, you won't be able to bring people along with you.
https://76crimes.com/2025/03/14/transgender-in-the-u-s-trans-people-in-chile-are-treated-better/
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/may/14/dr-tlaleng-mofokeng-roe-v-wade-reversal-un
Posted by Top_Lime1820