Julius Malema says black people must take white people’s land

EFF leader Julius Malema encouraged black people living in townships to take land owned by white people, as it would improve their lives.

Malema shared his views on South Africa, the economy, and land occupation during a lecture at the University of Limpopo.

He dismissed critics who said that he should tone down his rhetoric, saying he prioritises radicalising the youth over winning votes.

One of these radical ideas he shared during his lecture was that black people living in townships should take and occupy open land.

“Here is Alexandra, where millions of black Africans are squeezed together in one place. Next to Alexandra, there is open land owned by Wits University,” he said.

“Because the land is associated with a white man, people are scared to go and occupy it. They would rather stay in squalor, crammed like sardines.”

“They see land that looks like it’s owned by a white man, and they will never go there. They should say, ‘We can’t live like this, let’s unite and go and take that thing.’”

He cited another example of people living in Kayamandi, a township on the northern outskirts of Stellenbosch.

“Those guys live crammed together on a hill, and right next to them is beautiful, green land spanning many hectares,” he said.

“On this land, there is just one house belonging to a white man on 3,000 hectares of land. It is a British colonial-style house. They will never go there.”

When Malema visited Kayamandi, he told the residents, “We must go and take that land. We must go and occupy that land. We can’t live like this.”

“They did not go. However, I will never stop, because politicising people isn’t a quick fix. It takes time.”

“So, one day, when the youth of Kayamandi stand up and go into that farm in Stellenbosch, they will be speaking about us.”