Malema U-turns on his Springboks praise, blames it on 'slip in ...

EFF leader Julius Malema says new colours of democracy are needed in the rugby national attire.

NEWS

Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema expressed concerns about the Springboks' name, colours and logo, denouncing them as a symbol of white supremacy.

This comes days after he acknowledged the team's recent Rugby World Cup victory and the unifying effect it had on South Africans.

Last week, Malema praised the squad and Captain Siya Kolisi on their triumph, calling Kolisi "My Captain" on social media platform X.

However, with the Rugby World Cup excitement having waned, Malema has made a U-turn, claiming that his praise was a "slip in political consciousness" and that he cannot support the team's name, colours and logo.

READ: Mondli Makhanya | Springboks: From symbol of apartheid to glue of the nation 

Malema made these comments during a speech at the EFF Gauteng Provincial Ground Forces Forum at the Standard Bank Arena in Doornfontein on Sunday. He emphasised the importance of addressing historical injustices and ensuring that all South Africans felt represented by their national symbols.

He said:

Malema said he did not support the Springboks, its emblem and the “apartheid” colours that the national rugby team wore and, therefore, as the EFF, the party wanted colours that represented democracy. 

He said:

“The Springboks must fall. That national team - we will get it a new name, and the new colours and the new emblem, which will represent our democracy.”

Malema argued that South Africa could not remove apartheid symbols and maintain the name Springbok, the emblem and the colours that were used during apartheid by white people.

READ: EFF not impressed by Ramaphosa's 'deceitful' public holiday

He added:

“Why are we being forced to salute the emblem that was saluted by former National Party prime minister DF Malan, to salute the emblem that was saluted by [PW] Botha, by [former National Party prime minister Hendrik] Verwoerd, by murderers who were killing our people wearing the same jersey in celebration of butchering black people. That emblem and that jersey represent white supremacy that we don’t support.”

Malema explained that rugby was not a white man’s sport. He said South Africans in the Eastern Cape and everywhere else played rugby long before the Springboks played rugby.

However, Patriotic Alliance president Gayton Mckenzie took to his own social media page and expressed avid support for the world champions as well as the importance of celebrating the squad's victory in France.

He said:

“We love the Springboks; we have moved on from any bad or racist connotation associated with it. This is not the time to listen to fools like Malema. Let’s celebrate our boys for a hard-won victory.

“The Springbok name is going nowhere, finish and klaar,” he added.