Julius Malema to Lead EFF’s Sharpeville Rally on Human Rights Day
By Thabo Mosia
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) announced that their President and Commander-in-Chief, Julius Malema, will lead the Sharpeville Rally on Friday, 21 March 2025, to honour the heroes of the struggle against apartheid. EFF spokesperson Sinawo Thambo announced on Monday, 17 March 2025, that “The Sharpeville Rally is to commemorate those that defiantly destroyed what was then known as the Dompass, a document designed to regulate the movement of Africans and restrict them to labour reserves.”
The event is set to take place at 12:00 at Dlomo Dam in Sharpeville, Sedibeng, Gauteng, a location tied to the painful history of the 1960 Sharpeville Massacre.
A Day of Remembrance and Resistance
South Africa’s Human Rights Day, marked every year on 21 March, is a time to reflect on the sacrifices made during the fight for freedom. For the EFF, it’s more than just a public holiday—it’s Sharpeville Day, a moment to remember the 69 people killed and over 180 injured when police opened fire on peaceful protesters in Sharpeville in 1960. The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has long rejected the term “Human Rights Day,” arguing it waters down the specific struggle of black South Africans against apartheid’s harsh laws, like the pass system or “Dompass.”
On Monday, 17 March 2025, EFF spokesperson Sinawo Thambo shared the party’s plans for this year’s commemoration. “The Sharpeville Rally is to commemorate those that defiantly destroyed what was then known as the Dompass, a document designed to regulate the movement of Africans and restrict them to labour reserves,” Thambo said. The rally, led by EFF President Julius Malema, will happen at Dlomo Dam in Sharpeville, Sedibeng, Gauteng, at 12:00 on Friday, 21 March 2025. It’s a call to action and a tribute to those who stood up against oppression.
The EFF has held similar events in Sharpeville before, using the day to connect with supporters and push their message of economic freedom and land reform. This year’s rally comes at a key time for the party, as it continues to grow its influence ahead of future elections.
Why Sharpeville Matters
The Sharpeville Massacre is a turning point in South Africa’s history. On 21 March 1960, thousands of people, led by the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC), marched to the Sharpeville police station to burn their passbooks—documents that controlled where black South Africans could live, work, and travel. The police responded with violence, shooting into the crowd and leaving a scar on the nation’s memory. The event sparked global outrage and put pressure on the apartheid government, marking a shift in the struggle for freedom.
For the EFF, this day isn’t about celebrating broad human rights—it’s about the specific fight for black dignity. Julius Malema has often said the name “Human Rights Day” hides the truth of what happened. In a 2019 speech at Dlomo Dam, he told supporters, “This nonsense of non-racialism they are spreading in defence of white privilege, we are not part of that nonsense.” He’s expected to echo this message at the 2025 rally, urging South Africans to keep pushing for justice and equality.
Dlomo Dam, the rally venue, sits near the site of the massacre, making it a powerful spot for remembrance. The EFF’s choice of location shows their focus on linking today’s struggles—poverty, unemployment, and landlessness—to the sacrifices of the past.
What to Expect at the Rally
The Sharpeville Rally on 21 March 2025 will bring together EFF supporters from across Gauteng and beyond. Starting at 12:00, the event at Dlomo Dam will feature speeches, songs, and a strong dose of the party’s fiery rhetoric. Julius Malema, known for his bold and inspiring style, will take centre stage.
Malema’s past Sharpeville speeches give a clue about what’s coming. In 2022, he used the rally to slam the ANC government, saying it had failed to deliver on the promises of 1994. “We are here to fight for the rights of black people,” he told the crowd, rejecting the idea of a shared “Human Rights Day” with those who “always had rights.” This time, he’s likely to focus on the EFF’s core issues—land expropriation without compensation, jobs for the youth, and free education—while honouring the Sharpeville heroes.
The rally isn’t just a look back—it’s a look forward. With South Africa facing rolling power cuts, high unemployment (over 32% according to Stats SA), and growing frustration with the ANC, the EFF sees a chance to rally support.
The EFF’s Sharpeville Legacy
The EFF has made Sharpeville a key part of its identity. Since its founding in 2013 by Malema and his allies, the party has held regular rallies there to mark 21 March. In 2019, Malema told supporters at Dlomo Dam that the EFF was carrying on the work of the PAC, whose leader Robert Sobukwe he praised as a true fighter. “If the PAC was strong, the EFF would have never come to existence,” he said. This year’s rally will likely build on that legacy, linking the past to the EFF’s vision for the future.
EFF uses Sharpeville to connect with communities. Hundreds of supporters in red berets and T-shirts filled the area near Dlomo Dam, singing struggle songs and cheering as Malema spoke. The party’s version of the national anthem, skipping the English and Afrikaans parts, has become a rally staple—a symbol of their push for a new South Africa.
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