By A Correspondent| South African opposition leader Julias Malema has defended the just elected Johannesburg Mayor Jodile Matango following the noise from people who felt his Zimbabwean roots disqualified him for the job.

Malema said he disagrees politically with those canvassing to reject Matango because his father was Zimbabwean.

“We grew up with Jodilee Matango in the YL, and today, we are canvassed to reject him because his father was Zimbabwean. I’m sorry, don’t count me in your nonsense. Politically we disagree, but he remains a black brother of mine. #NoToXenophobia,” said Malema.

Matango has been a victim of attacks on social media for holding the Mayor’s office while his parents are from Zimbabwe. The #WeRejectMayorOfJHB trend picked up in most parts of Tuesday and Wednesday.

Former DA leader Mmusi Maimane has also defended Matango, saying he is rightly a South African.

“Oksalayo [After all] Jodilee Matango is South African, Soweto born and we must not entertain xenophobia.

You can engage people on their ideas, on their track record of delivery as leaders, on their political choices.

But xenophobia, that’s not acceptable. Not today or any other day,” Mmusi tweeted