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Julius Malema

JOHANNESBURG. — Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema called for peace in the Johannesburg township of Alexandra yesterday afternoon, laying the blame for deadly xenophobic violence at the door of the ANC. “Today I’m not proud to be South African. I am totally ashamed. Because today Africans are eating fellow Africans,” he told crowds gathered around him, snapping pictures of him with their cellphones.

“We are all Africans,” said Malema. “Africa, we are one. We must be ashamed.”

Unemployed people criticising foreigners for taking their jobs, should rather ask the ANC for help.

“Go ask the ANC for a job,” said Malema.

“It (the ANC) protects white privilege and leaves you to poverty.”

The seventh person killed in a wave of xenophobic violence, Emmanuel Sithole, died after being stabbed in Alexandra on Saturday.

“Alexandra, please reclaim your streets. We are peaceful people,” said Malema.

A few hundred people had gathered near the Women’s Hostel in Alexandra ahead of Malema’s arrival, News24’s Thomas Hartleb reported from the area.

Before he arrived, an EFF member was reportedly shot in a nearby hostel, but details on the shooting were sketchy.

Before he turned up, two groups of EFF members went toyi-toying down the street holding up posters against xenophobia.

Earlier, a man got onto the back of a bakkie with a microphone and announced, “The commander in chief is in the area,” though Malema had yet to be spotted.

“Our enemies is (sic) Pick n Pay, De Beers, not the black man,” said the man.

Three people were arrested for Sithole’s murder and are expected to appear in court today. —News24.