EFF leader calls for women’s empowerment to tackle SA’s woes

Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema says South African women must be empowered in order to fight poverty, unemployment and inequality.

Malema says one of the crises that the country faces is the non-payment of maintenance by fathers, adding that all men who neglect their children must pay child support.

He was addressing the EFF’s Women’s Day rally in Secunda, Mpumalanga, earlier today.

VIDEO | Women’s Day 2025 | EFF leader Julius Malema addresses supporters in Secunda

The EFF leader has called for all provincial departments in Mpumalanga to report annually on women’s representation in their staff complement, as well as the budget for gender-specific programmes.

Malema was addressing his party’s Women’s Day rally in Secunda.

Speaking on issues of exploitation in the workplace, Malema says the EFF would advocate for the protection and progression of women, especially domestic workers.

“As we remember, the woman who stood up on this day in 1956 let us also take a moment to reflect on the long and painful history of South Africa’s domestic workers, the majority of whom are black women, the most exploited women in our society are domestic workers,” says Malema.

EFF’ Julius Malema says: “Women get raped in churches, at schools, in workplaces and social places, and they do not rape themselves; they are raped by men. Men have to stand up.” He adds: “Any man who doesn’t give women money is an irresponsible man. Women havev to receive… pic.twitter.com/o9qv4F7VeI

— SABC News (@SABCNews) August 9, 2025

He adds that these women get beaten, harassed, and raped in silence because they cannot talk.

VIDEO | EFF Women’s Day Commemoration Addressed by President Julius Malema