Julius Malema commits to building houses for families of fatal bus accident
At a mass funeral in Vryheid, Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema vowed to build houses and boreholes to the families of the ten young victims who lost their lives in a bus accident.
The tragedy occurred last Monday night near Vryheid, KwaZulu-Natal when a bus carrying supporters from Umlazi collided with a long-haul truck, resulting in a catastrophic crash.
At the mass funeral on Sunday, Malema expressed his deepest condolences and promised support to the grieving families.
“To the families of these young heroes, we say you are not alone. Your loss is our loss. Your tears are our tears. Your children are not forgotten,” he said
“We must continue to be disciplined and die in the revolution, because to die in a revolution must be an honour, and so we will honour all of these young heroes.
“Each one of them, with a house, proper houses that have all the facilities… and if there is no water in those yards, will make sure we put boreholes to restore the dignity of those families.
“We will build those houses and put those boreholes because we want to build a permanent relationship with these families. We don’t want to forget you; do not forget us,” he added.
He emphasised that the young lives lost were not mere statistics, but they were dreams cut short, representing the potential of a generation that should be shaping South Africa’s future.
“These children were warriors,” he said. “They fought in the battlefield of life, not drowning in drugs or alcohol but standing tall in the fight for land, justice, and dignity.”
He condemned the normalisation of premature death in black communities, urging the nation to address the systemic issues that perpetuate such tragedies.
“Our children are not born to die on dangerous roads; they are born to build, create, and lead,” Malema proclaimed.
“Their deaths must serve as a wake-up call. We must fix our roads, regulate the transport industry, and hold those responsible accountable.”
He called for collective resilience, encouraging the community and the nation to turn grief into action.
“We must continue to fight for land and justice, because this land belongs to us-to our grandchildren.”
Malema listed the names of the victims, including Sbongakonke Mathe (17), Ntombi Ndlovu (19), Lungani Mbatha (25), and others, emphasising that these were young people full of promise, dreams, and hope.
“They were full of life, courage, and the spirit of resilience,” he said. “Their deaths are a reminder that we must do more to protect our youth from preventable tragedies.”
He drew parallels with historic struggles, invoking the spirit of 1976 youth protests and revolutionary heroes like Thomas Sankara and Burkina Faso’s President Ibrahim Traoré.
“Our young people are the future of Africa,” Malema asserted.
“They are the leaders, fighters, and builders of tomorrow. We must inspire them to continue the fight for liberation, dignity, and justice.”
Malema’s speech extended beyond mourning, criticising government failures in infrastructure, transport regulation, and social services.
He condemned the government’s inaction on road safety and highlighted the urgent need for reforms to prevent future tragedies.
“We cannot accept a country where young lives are sacrificed on the roads simply because of neglect and corruption,” he stated.
He also linked the tragedy to broader struggles, poverty, unemployment, and systemic inequality, calling South Africans to unite and push for a more just society.
“Our fight is not only for land and dignity but for a future where no child dies prematurely due to avoidable circumstances,” Malema declared.
In his speech, Malema also expressed solidarity with oppressed peoples worldwide, condemning apartheid Israel’s actions in Gaza, supporting Iran’s sovereignty, and celebrating African revolutionary leadership.
He invoked Burkina Faso’s President Ibrahim Traoré as a symbol of youthful resistance and principled leadership, urging South Africa’s youth to follow suit.
Malema urged South Africans to honour the memory of the fallen members by fighting for a safer, fairer nation.
“Their lives must not be in vain,” he said. “We owe it to them to build a South Africa where every child can dream and live fully.”
thabo.makwakwa@inl.co.za
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