An overwhelming majority of South Africans were left delirious by the result on Saturday. The Springboks became world champions for the third time, lifting the Webb-Ellis trophy in Japan. The country has expressed renewed feelings of unity and pride in South Africa… except for a few dissenting voices. Julius Malema has now stormed into a debate sparked by EFF comrade Mbuyiseni Ndlozi.

In the moments after the final whistle, Ndlozi flew in the face of euphoria and decided to bring out a few “home truths”. The EFF spokesperson claimed that the triumph was “not a victory” for South Africa, as the Springboks still retain at a white-centric culture at their core. Treasurer General Leigh Mathys expressed similar sentiments.

EFF showdown: Julius Malema comments of the Ndlozi vs Springboks row

Over the past 48 hours, Ndlozi has been cast as the pantomime villain in South Africa, policing the celebrations of the millions of rugby fans who have been revelling in the success. He may have been criticised for his strong opinions, but he’s received support in abundance from his fellow party members – and that includes Julius Malema:

I don’t know why @MbuyiseniNdlozi is trending but I agree with him. #Ndlozi pic.twitter.com/zVnj50wyIq — Julius Sello Malema (@Julius_S_Malema) November 4, 2019

Doubling down and “rejecting unity”

We’re not too sure what the Bonang meme is about, but anyway… Mbuyiseni Ndlozi is not backing down in this row. Far from it, actually. He came out all guns blazing on social media once more on Monday:

“We are pushing against all efforts to pull a 1994/1996 on us AGAIN. We will not take the sleeping tablets of Rugby euphoria again. We will be better than our parents; we choose to feel the painful truth of our wretched conditions. We refuse unity without equality and the land.” “We recognize that Siya lifts a trophy for the most unequal nation in the world. A place where the white minority lives everyday from the exploitation of blacks. He is part of this reality even as he lifts this trophy!” Mbuyiseni Ndlozi

“Some blacks enjoy being the only ones on top” – EFF’s Mbuyiseni Ndlozi

Sadly, Ndlozi also used an unsavoury term to describe the black players in the Springboks’ squad.

What is apartheid; a system in which the white minority creates conditions that make the black majority satisfy themselves of being a minority.



Careful because some blacks actually enjoy being the “only” blacks on top; the minority on top- it’s called the house nigger syndrome! — Mbuyiseni Ndlozi (@MbuyiseniNdlozi) November 4, 2019

Although many will argue that there are some factual issues under that veneer of nastiness, expression and intention provide a very important context here. The comments made by Mbuyiseni Ndlozi since Saturday afternoon do, undeniably, perpetuate the division the EFF claim to resent so deeply. This is an ugly war of words that shows no signs of ending soon.