Cape Town — Deputy president of Patriotic Alliance Kenny Kunene has sparked controversy after publicly downplaying Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema in a post directed at US President Donald Trump on social media platform X.
In the Saturday evening post, Kunene referred to Malema as “a small boy, a toy soldier and a very very harmless pest”, urging Trump not to be deterred by the firebrand leader’s rhetoric.
Mr President @realDonaldTrump julius sello malema is not government in South Africa. he is a small boy, a toy soldier and a very very harmless pest. All that talk is him being a loud mouth. So don’t be misled by an irritating political mosquito. Come to G20 here in SA to come see…
— Kenny Kunene (@Kenny_T_Kunene) April 12, 2025
Kunene made the remarks following a statement by Trump, who reiterated that troubling developments are unfolding in South Africa — a reason he cited for not attending the G20 summit in November.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump questioned the United States’ participation in the upcoming G20 Summit.
“How could we be expected to go to South Africa for the very important G20 Meeting when Land Confiscation and Genocide is the primary topic of conversation? They are taking the land of white Farmers, and then killing them and their families. The Media refuses to report on this. The United States has held back all contributions to South Africa. Is this where we want to be for the G20? I don’t think so!,” he wrote.
How could we be expected to go to South Africa for the very important G20 Meeting when Land Confiscation and Genocide is the primary topic of conversation? They are taking the land of white Farmers, and then killing them and their families. The Media refuses to report on this.…
— Donald J. Trump Posts From His Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) April 11, 2025
In a furious reaction, the EFF said on Saturday Trump was using it (the party) as an excuse “to avoid facing his global peers” after his announcement of trade tariffs on several countries.
It “is clear that he fears facing his counterparts following his humiliating tariff stunt,” it said, accusing the US leader of “economic genocide”.
♦️Must Read♦️
EFF STATEMENT ON DONALD TRUMP’S DECLARATION OF NON-ATTENDANCE OF G20 SUMMIT IN SOUTH AFRICA, AND CLAIMS OF GENOCIDE AND LAND CONFISCATION REFERENCING A DEBATE BY CIC JULIUS MALEMA IN PARLIAMENT
– The EFF advises Donald Trump not to use South Africa as a reason to… pic.twitter.com/IfTBZCpbb0
— Economic Freedom Fighters (@EFFSouthAfrica) April 12, 2025
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
