Julius Malema’s party, Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has rejected a weekend statement that called for the “swift removal” of foreign nationals from the City of Johannesburg.
Part of the statement by EFF said:
The EFF rejects the statement that calls for the removal of foreign nationals from the city of Johannesburg released under the name of the EFF. The statement calls for the ostracism of foreign nationals is not only fake but it contradicts everything EFF stands for.
The EFF believes that the city of Johannesburg belongs to all Africans, as does the whole of South Africa
We call on members of the EFF and the entire society to be careful of fake accounts and fake news. Both Twitter and Facebook accounts of the EFF have been authenticated. EFF statements are therefore released to the public through these outlets together with the official EFF website.
This statement by EFF comes after a threatening message purporting to be from the party began circulating on social media saying that foreign nationals should be driven out of the country, especially in Pretoria and Johannesburg CBD. The viral message said a section of South Africans were planning a demonstration on February 24 against the influx of foreign nationals who they accused of taking their jobs. The statement singled out Zimbabweans, Nigerians and Pakistanis as major problems saying there was no war in these countries.
More: EFF on Facebook