Mchunu Says EFF’s Stance on Illegal Foreigners Is Being Used Against the Party

Mchunu says the Economic Freedom Fighters’ (EFF) position on illegal immigration is being used to campaign against the party. EFF leader Julius Malema has said the issue is about identifying people in South Africa, not about giving foreign nationals citizenship.

The comments draw a line between managing immigration and changing the rules for becoming a South African citizen. Malema has said the EFF wants the state to know who is in the country. He describes this as a matter of identification and administration, not a plan to grant citizenship to foreign nationals.

Mchunu argues that the EFF’s stance is being used to damage the party’s political support. The available information does not say who is behind this effort, and it gives no examples of the alleged campaigning.

The remarks come at a time of heated public debate about immigration, border control and the rights of foreign nationals. Political parties are under pressure to explain how they would deal with irregular migration. They must also make clear that their policies do not unfairly target people because of their nationality or immigration status.

Malema’s clarification does not set out a detailed policy. It does not explain how people would be identified, what legal process would apply, or how people without documents would be treated. Mchunu’s criticism points to the political effect of the debate. Voters may understand the EFF’s position in different ways, depending on how party leaders explain it and how their words are repeated in public. Mchunu says the issue is being used against the party, but no evidence was provided to support this.

The difference Malema is pointing to is a real one. Immigration status and citizenship are separate matters. A person can live in a country without being a citizen, and citizenship is a legal status with specific requirements.

The comments do not answer wider questions about immigration enforcement, documentation, asylum or naturalisation. They also do not explain what steps the EFF would support to identify undocumented residents. For now, the debate is mostly about how the party’s position is described and what it would mean in practice.

A note on accuracy: the original says the EFF’s stance is being used to campaign against “the party,” but it does not make clear which party that is. It also gives only the surname Mchunu, with no first name or position. I kept the wording as it was, but you should confirm both points with your source before publishing.

https://x.com/Durbannetwork/status/2120424431403078117

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