South African political leader Julius Malema has issued a passionate plea to Africans across the continent, asking for forgiveness following the recent wave of xenophobic attacks on foreign nationals, including Ghanaians.
In an emotional address, Malema acknowledged the pain and anger caused by the attacks and begged Africans to find it in their hearts to forgive South Africans.
“Find it in your good heart because Africans, you are good people. Find it in your good hearts to forgive us. We are sorry.
We are ashamed of ourselves. And we sincerely apologize for this madness,” he said.
He urged the continent not to judge all South Africans the same, explaining that the perpetrators are criminal elements who do not represent the majority.
“Please don’t treat all South Africans the same. We are dealing with these criminal elements who want to project us as people who do not love our own brothers and sisters,” Malema added.
Malema attributed the hostility toward fellow Africans to a deep-rooted psychological legacy of apartheid, which he said had instilled a sense of superiority and hatred.
“Our oppressors, those who have taken away our brains and minds, are the ones who have instilled in us the hatred of our fellow African brothers and sisters. It is not of our own making,” he explained.
He admitted that South Africans are still in the process of soul-searching and learning to see themselves as part of Africa.
Malema reminded South Africans of the continent’s support during the apartheid era, when neighboring countries opened their doors to South African freedom fighters despite facing brutal retaliation.
“The Nigerians opened their gates, Zimbabweans, Mozambicans, Swaziland, Botswana, Lesotho, Zambia, Tanzania, Angola.
They opened their gates and welcomed us. The people of Lesotho were bombed and killed by the apartheid government looking for us,” he recalled.
Despite those attacks, he said, those nations never turned their backs.
Malema concluded with a strong call for South Africans to reflect deeply on their actions.
“It is our turn now to say thank you to the continent. Instead, we are eating now, and we have forgotten where we come from.
You must do a thorough, thorough soul-searching, South Africans. You will realize that your acts are unacceptable.”
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