The EFF called on the leaders of China, India and Brazil to boycott next month’s Brics summit in South Africa in solidarity with the Russian leader, Vladimir Putin.
Putin will not attend the summit in person.
His possible visit earlier created a diplomatic and legal dilemma for South Africa due to the warrant issued by the International Criminal Court for his arrest. South Africa is a signatory to the Rome Statute, which means the country has an obligation to arrest Putin, should he visit the country.
It was later agreed that Putin would not travel to South Africa for the summit.
Julius Malema, leader of the EFF, on Saturday at the party’s ten-year celebration called on the other Brics leaders not to attend the summit, which will be held from 22 to 24 August, as a sign of support for Putin. .
Malema also condemned the US, accusing the country of “threatening” South Africa by demanding that South Africa turn its back on Putin in return for further access to the African Growth and Opportunity Act, better known as the Agoa Agreement.
Agoa ensures duty-free imports on most of South Africa’s goods to the US.
“They can take Agoa and leave us with our sovereignty,” Malema told his thousands of supporters in Johannesburg, where the flags of the African Union and Cuba were also flying.
Malema also railed against corruption by the ANC, which has ruled the country since the start of democracy in 1994 – and pledged to unseat the party in the upcoming election.
