Open Border Policy: Malema says voters snubbed Action SA on bargaining issue of ‘foreigners’

In their post-election address at the National Elections Operations Centre in Gauteng Province, Julius Malema, the leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), highlighted a critical factor behind the voters’ rejection of Action SA’s contentious issue of ‘foreigners’ and the open border policy.

Malema’s remarks shed light on a pivotal aspect of the electoral landscape, emphasizing how voters’ stance on immigration and border policies played a significant role in shaping their decisions at the ballot box.

According to Malema, Action SA’s stance on this issue failed to resonate with the electorate, resulting in a snub that potentially prevented the party from surpassing the EFF in the elections.

“The EFF remains resilient and unaffected by the alleged decline in its voters. The notion that this decline is solely due to open borders is unfounded. If this were true, ActionSA would have surpassed us, yet their position proves otherwise. Even the efforts of the Patriotic Alliance’s Gayton Mckenzie Mabahambe chant failed to overthrow the EFF,” Malema addressed in a briefing.

Malema stated that the media should cease spreading false information regarding the EFF’s opposition to open borders.

He emphasized the party’s support for Africans and clarified that their stance is for foreigners to be properly documented, not for them to be present in the country illegally.

Malema said the issue of illegal immigrants should be attributed to the ANC, as they have been unsuccessful in effectively safeguarding the borders from the very start.

He also took a swipe at Herman Mashaba’s decline in the elections, pointing out that their manifesto was centered on attacking the EFF on social media platforms for their Pan Africanism agenda, rather than promoting their own party and this led to the party walking away with 1% in the national elections.

“ActionSA, did not have a Manifesto. Their Manifesto was EFF. Everywhere Herman went he was tweeting about the EFF…. Look at him now. He didn’t concentrate on his organisation, he was concentrating on other people’s organizations,” said Malema.

The EFF leader’s comments underscore a broader sentiment within the political arena, where immigration and border policies have increasingly become focal points of debate and contention in the country.

With globalization and demographic shifts reshaping societies worldwide, parties’ positions on these issues have become crucial in shaping public opinion and electoral outcomes.

Malema’s assertion that the party could have outperformed the EFF had it adopted a different stance on the open border policy underscores the strategic significance of addressing these issues in a manner that resonates with voters.

Moreover, Malema’s remarks raise questions about the broader implications of immigration and border policies on the political landscape, signaling a growing awareness among political leaders of the need to navigate these issues adeptly to garner electoral support.

As countries grapple with the complexities of migration, globalization, and national identity, political parties face the challenge of articulating coherent and inclusive policies that address these concerns while upholding principles of equality and justice.

The fallout from Action SA’s stance on the bargaining issue of ‘foreigners’ serves as a cautionary tale for political parties, highlighting the risks of adopting positions that alienate segments of the electorate and undermine broader electoral appeal.

Malema’s assertion that the party’s failure to prioritize the open border policy contributed to its electoral setback underscores the importance of listening to and engaging with the diverse perspectives and interests of voters.

The EFF garnered 9.4% of the votes in the national elections, resulting in its demotion to the third position as the largest party, overtaken by the uMkhonto WeSizwe Party (MK Party) in the elections.