Malema Says ‘No Sane Young Person’ Would Wear An ANC T-shirt

EFF leader Julius Malema has lashed out at young supporters of the ANC, claiming they should feel embarrassed to publicly wear the governing party’s colours.

Addressing supporters at an EFF Youth Day rally in Pretoria on Tuesday, Malema questioned why young people would continue backing the ANC, arguing that the party no longer represents their interests.

“You must be so ashamed when you are young and still wear an ANC t-shirt. We should take you to Moria and have them pray for you because clearly these people have bewitched you.

“There is no young person who is sane who will wear an ANC t-shirt. When you see a young person with an ANC t-shirt, have pity on them; they probably forgot to take their medication, they probably did not notice that they are in the wrong t-shirt,” he said.

Julius Malema Claims ANC Regalia Has Become An Embarrassment

Malema said the ANC’s standing among South Africans has deteriorated significantly, making it difficult for supporters to wear the party’s clothing with pride.

He contrasted this with the reception EFF members receive when appearing in public, describing his party as the preferred choice for many young South Africans.

“When we walk in public with our EFF t-shirts, we get saluted by people that we do not even know, they say FIGHTER when they see us because we are the hope of the hopeless people of South Africa. We represent the future of South Africa; we are going to deliver economic freedom in our lifetime,” he said.

Malema further argued that the EFF is the political home of the country’s black youth and insisted that even ANC-aligned young people would eventually join his party.

“Every young person in South Africa belongs to the EFF including those who are wearing ANC t-shirts, they belong to the EFF, we are going to take them from the ANC and show them the direction, they are lost,” he said.

Julius Malema Urges Youth To Back EFF In Local Government Elections

The EFF leader welcomed the turnout at the Youth Day gathering and praised young people who attended the event at the Union Buildings.

He encouraged supporters to register and vote in the upcoming local government elections, saying the EFF needed stronger representation in municipalities across the country.

“The youth of 2026 you will decide if you want to be like the 1976 youth but I trust you the way you came here in your numbers you are telling them already that you are going to be like the youth of 1976, we are going to take every campus, we are going to take every university we are going to take every TVET, we are going to take every school,” he said.

Julius Malema Targets ANC Over Corruption Allegations

Malema also used his speech to renew attacks on the ANC over corruption, despite his own party facing scrutiny in connection with evidence presented before the Madlanga Commission.

He told supporters that communities should hold public representatives accountable and reject leaders accused of abusing their positions for personal gain.

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“This year, we are rejecting corruption. Every councillor in our community who was corrupt, it’s our turn now to punish that councillor of the ANC. How come the whole family of the councillor they have jobs and next door there is no single person who is working – clearly that is corruption, we must go and stop in on the 4th of November,” he said.

Malema’s remarks come as some ANC leaders in KwaZulu-Natal have publicly acknowledged the reputational challenges facing the party. Several have previously admitted that campaigning in communities has become more difficult as public confidence in the ANC continues to face pressure.