South Africans have started a new movement called Put South Africans First as they express their anger towards certain politicians that are not putting the interests of South Africans ahead of foreigners. Some are the targeted politicians are Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema who has been pushing for an inclusive South Africa that is tolerant to foreign nationals.
#PutSouthAfricansFirst started trending on Twitter soon after EFF president Julius Malema finished his 26th freedom day speech. The citizens are calling for the clearing out of illegal foreigners as well as preferential treatment when it comes to jobs.
The position of the ANC government seems to favour the locals ahead of foreigners. Given the fact that the Finance Minister Tito Mboweni promised to launch a new labour policy favouring South Africans, it can be taken as the government’s poisition.
Malema’s speech comes just after the Finance Minister Tito Mboweni addressed the nation about a new labour policy after the lockdown period. Mboweni told South Africans that the new labour policy will address the locals labour concerns and will compel companies to employ South Africans ahead of foreign nationals.
South Africa is facing a serious loss of jobs caused by the covid-19 pandemic and is seeking to grow its economy and create jobs. For the first few years companies will struggle to recover and create sufficient jobs. The government will introduce the new labour policy to avoid riots from its citizens.
Foreign nationals are only hoping the movement will not result in xenophobic attacks on them as in previous years. They maybe forced to return to their countries to avoid loss of life.
Herman Mashaba, former Johannesburg Mayor and member of opposition party Democratic Alliance weighed in about the #PutSouthAfricansFirst movement: “Never stop raising this issue, despite the names they will call you. It is not xenophobic to say #PutSouthAfricansfirst, it is necessary. We must not be gagged from discussing important issues in our country that are central to turnaround,” he said.
Here are some of the comments by South Africans about the Put South Africa First mantra.
Never stop raising this issue, despite the names they will call you.
It is not xenophobic to say #PutSouthAfricansfirst, it is necessary.
We must not be gagged from discussing important issues in our country that are central to turnaround.
— Herman Mashaba (@HermanMashaba) April 27, 2020
When a South African lady gets married to a Nigerian man. She
should become a Nigerian. Not the other way around. We're tired. #PutSouthAfricansFirst pic.twitter.com/UuKBCRwjlf— MJ☠️ (@MayisaMJ) April 27, 2020
The self-hate amongst Fools make them to object to the logical view that we should assist the entire African continent and all Africans on the fight against COVID-19 pandemic. They do so on exactly the same day 217 Medical Doctors and Specialists arrived from Cuba assist SA?
— Floyd Shivambu (@FloydShivambu) April 27, 2020
https://twitter.com/mpuwoa/status/1254764381000392704
We cannot keep on feeding and accommodating immigrants while our own have no homes, Jobs and poor health services Africa cannot be built in one country.#PutSouthAfricansFirst pic.twitter.com/0skksU7sG6
— The Empress (@MissMaylands) April 27, 2020
https://twitter.com/uLerato_pillay/status/1254737156477771776
EFF refuses to apologize for treating foreigners with dignity speech
Outspoken EFF Commissar & Member of Parliament Mbuyiseni Ndlozi reveals that the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) will never apologize for asking South Africans to be human.
We will never apologize for asking South Africans to be human. To treat visitors among them with dignity. We refuse to spread the message of hate & Afro-phobia. We have an obligation to our neighbors, in particular black people. This is who we are & we will NEVER change! – Mbuyiseni Ndlozi
We will never apologize for asking South Africans to be human. To treat visitors among them with dignity. We refuse to spread the message of hate & Afro-phobia. We have an obligation to our neighbors, in particular black people. This is who we are & we will NEVER change!
— Mbuyiseni Ndlozi (@MbuyiseniNdlozi) April 27, 2020
Read More: Companies Must Employ South Africans Over Foreigners – S.A Government
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