South African opposition leader and President of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), Julius Malema, paid a courtesy visit to the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Saturday.
Malema was received by the governor at the Lagos House in Marina. Governor Sanwo-Olu shared the visit on his official X (formerly Twitter) handle, stating:
“Today, I received Mr. Julius Malema, President of South Africa’s Economic Freedom Fighters, on a courtesy visit at Lagos House, Marina.”
He also shared photos of their meeting.
The EFF, in a statement on its official X handle on Sunday, noted that Malema is in Nigeria to address the Nigerian Bar Association’s Annual General Conference in Enugu, scheduled for Sunday, August 24, 2025. The event will be held at the Enugu State International Conference Centre.
Malema, 44, is a prominent and often controversial figure in South African politics, known for his outspoken views and the EFF’s radical, Marxist-inspired platform. He has drawn criticism in the past for his use of struggle-era songs and slogans, including “Kill the Boer, kill the farmer”—a chant rooted in South Africa’s anti-apartheid history.
In May, Malema made international headlines after reaffirming his intention to continue using such chants, even after a tense diplomatic incident involving U.S. President Donald Trump and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. During a meeting in Washington, Trump reportedly showed Ramaphosa a four-minute video highlighting alleged violence against white South Africans. The video prominently featured Malema chanting slogans and wearing the signature red beret of the EFF.
The “Kill the Boer” chant, historically used during the resistance to apartheid, has remained highly controversial in post-apartheid South Africa. While supporters defend its significance as a symbol of liberation, critics—including political groups representing white South Africans—have repeatedly sought to ban it, arguing it incites violence.
Malema’s visit to Nigeria and participation in the NBA conference comes amid continued debate over his political rhetoric and the role of post-liberation movements in shaping Africa’s democratic future.
