Julius Malema, South African opposition politician, has condemned citizens who launch xenophobic attacks against foreigners in the country over claims of job loss.
Malema spoke on Thursday during an event organised to commemorate the 14th anniversary of Collen Mashawana Foundation.
Recently, videos of violent attacks against African immigrants, particularly Ghanaians, Zimbabweans, and Nigerians in South Africa. went viral on social media.
The Nigerian Consulate in Johannesburg said two Nigerians — Amaramiro Emmanuel and Ekpenyong Andrew — were killed in the escalating xenophobic tensions.
Speaking during the event, Malema, leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters, challenged perpetrators of attacks on foreigners and the closure of their businesses to state the jobs they have created in South Africa.
The opposition politician said citizens with no skills are claiming that foreigners took their jobs in South Africa.
Malema said he does not want the votes of those who attack foreigners or expect him to share in their hatred.
“I want to speak about the xenophobic and afrophobia that we are practicing here in South Africa today,” he said.
“I want to challenge you who say ‘Zimbabweans take your jobs, Nigerians take your jobs’ and you march, close shops, and beat up people. Tell us after doing that, how many jobs have you created?
“You beat people because they took jobs. You closed a show that hired five people and you say they take our jobs. After closing that shop, how many jobs have you created?
“Unskilled men, with no skill whatsoever, say somebody took their jobs. The skill they know is to drink and I want to pretend like revolutionaries.
“I don’t want your votes. If you behave like that, take them away. I don’t want a vote that says to me, I must hate Africans for you to vote for me. I will never do that.”
