A video shown by former U.S. President Donald Trump during a high-level meeting with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has reignited controversy, featuring prominent opposition leader Julius Malema in what observers say was a misrepresentation of South African politics.
The 4-minute clip, played during a tense Oval Office meeting, portrayed Malema — leader of the left-wing Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) — as a government official calling for violence against white farmers. The footage included scenes of Malema wearing his party’s trademark red beret and chanting the liberation-era slogan, “Kill the Boer, kill the farmer.” Trump used the video to bolster his narrative of alleged “persecution” of white South Africans.
However, Malema, 44, is not a government representative but a vocal opposition figure. He founded the EFF in 2013 after his expulsion from the ruling African National Congress (ANC)’s youth league. Since then, he has cultivated a loyal following, particularly among young South Africans disillusioned by enduring inequality three decades after apartheid’s end.
Malema’s EFF, known for its dramatic protests and calls for land redistribution and nationalisation, has seen its political influence wane. It secured just 9.5% of the vote in the last election, placing fourth. The party has also faced internal defections, with several senior members joining former President Jacob Zuma’s new party, uMkhonto weSizwe (MK).
During the Oval Office exchange, Ramaphosa and his delegation distanced themselves from Malema’s remarks. Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen, of the Democratic Alliance, emphasized the government’s commitment to moderation, saying he joined Ramaphosa’s coalition “precisely to keep these people out of power.”
Business tycoon Johann Rupert, also present, called Malema a personal threat. Trump, pressing the issue, asked Ramaphosa, “Why wouldn’t you arrest that man?” Ramaphosa responded by underscoring South Africa’s constitutional democracy and legal protections for free speech.
The slogan at the heart of the controversy, “Kill the Boer,” originated during the anti-apartheid struggle and has faced repeated legal scrutiny. South African courts have ruled that its usage in political contexts does not constitute hate speech, arguing that figures like Malema use it as a provocative, symbolic rallying cry rather than a literal incitement to violence.
Political analyst Sandile Swana stated that while Malema’s language is inflammatory, it falls within the bounds of protected speech in a democracy.
Reacting online, Malema dismissed the White House discussion as trivial, mocking the leaders involved for “gossiping” about him. The EFF later accused Ramaphosa of betraying the legacy of the liberation movement by condemning a historically significant protest song and aligning with business and political elites against the struggle for land reform and dignity.
The incident has drawn renewed international attention to South Africa’s internal political divisions and the complexities surrounding post-apartheid identity, land, and justice.