Visa Ban: I prefer Nigeria’s jollof rice, goat meat pepper soup to Trump’s U.S. burger: Julius Malema
Julius Malema, the leader of South Africa’s Economic Freedom Fighters, has dismissed fears of a possible U.S. visa ban.
Mr Malema, a vocal critic of U.S. foreign policy toward Africa, said he would happily return to Africa, where he would enjoy local delicacies if President Donald Trump imposed a visa ban on him.
The opposition leader, who spoke while addressing his supporters in Johannesburg on Thursday, argued that his political stance naturally attracts hostility from the U.S. government, accusing the ‘world power’ country of always opposing movements that challenge its interests on the continent.
“Are we going to retreat because America doesn’t want us? Never! Even if America decides that I should no longer enter America, it’s okay. I will enter Zimbabwe. I will enter Botswana. I will enter Nigeria. I will enter Africa, my home.
“Why should I be concerned about people who are going to feed me burgers and make me fat, when I can go to Nigeria and eat jollof rice with goat pepper soup? Nice food. So why must I fight for burgers instead of jollof?
“When we were in Nigeria, we were given nice jollof rice and pepper soup by the governor of Enugu state. Me and my guys were sweating, but we didn’t stop eating. And that’s how nice Africa is,” Mr Malema added.
He added that no country should intimidate African leaders with travel restrictions, stressing that no level of pressure from Washington would deter his activism.
The Trump administration has accused South Africa of failing to protect White farmers amid alleged systematic persecution, which South Africa repeatedly denied.
The tensions prompted Mr Ramaphosa to travel to the White House in May to ease friction. The meeting, however, was marked by a moment when Mr Trump challenged the South African leader over Mr Malema’s past statements.
“Why didn’t you arrest that man?” Mr Trump asked on live TV, referring to a controversial chant once led by Mr Malema.
Mr Ramaphosa responded that South Africa is a constitutional democracy that guarantees freedom of expression.
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