WATCH: EFF will change Springbok emblem, colours, says Malema

Malema addressed thousands of EFF members at the Gauteng  Provincial Ground Forces Forum at the Standard Bank Arena in Johannesburg.

Malema's address came as the country was still basking in the glory of the Springboks’ Rugby World Cup victory.

Thousands of people lined the streets of Tshwane, Johannesburg, Cape Town, eThekwini and Buffalo City to welcome home their heroes.  

Hordes of South Africans also welcomed the players at OR Tambo International Airport on Tuesday after the Boks beat New Zealand 12-11 in Paris last Saturday, becoming the team to win the title on four separate occasions.

Responding to a charge that the EFF is a populist organisation, Malema said his party is not part of the Springboks’ World Cup victory celebrations, which is a popular thing throughout the country.

"We don't have a problem with rugby; we love rugby, but we don't love Mabokoboko.

“Mabokoboko, die Bokke, Springbok is an apartheid symbol - you can't say remove apartheid symbols and maintain the name Springbok and the emblem and the colours that were used by white people.

“We support rugby, but not this one of Afrikaans people. You can't say Rhodes must fall, and don't say Springboks must fall.

“The Springboks must fall. That national team - we will get it a new name, and the new colours, and the new emblem, which will represent our democracy," he said.

Malema believes the Springboks emblem and colours must be replaced.

“Why are we being forced to salute the emblem that was saluted by Malan? Salute the emblem that was saluted by Botha by Verwoerd, by De Klerk, by murderers who were killing our people wearing the same jersey in celebration of butchering black people? That emblem and that jersey represent white supremacists that we don’t support.”

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