Malema Found Guilty of Hate Speech by Court
Julius Malema, the leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), has been found guilty of hate speech by the Western Cape Equality Court.
This decision stems from comments he made during the EFF’s Provincial People’s Assembly on October 16, 2022.
Judge Mark Sher ruled that Malema’s statements promoted violence and racial hatred, violating South Africa’s laws on equality and discrimination, MDN reports.
The case was linked to a 2020 incident outside Brackenfell High School, where Malema allegedly encouraged EFF supporters to not be afraid to “kill” and to confront a white man involved in the situation. The court determined these remarks targeted white males and incited violence.
As a result, both Malema and the EFF must pay the legal costs of those who complained. The complaint was filed by the South African Human Rights Commission and a man named Dante van Wyk, who said he received numerous threats from EFF supporters, leading him to go into hiding in the Northern Cape.
Judge Sher emphasized that while free speech is important, Malema’s comments went too far by inciting harm.
This case highlights the ongoing struggle in South Africa to balance political expression with the need to combat hate speech.
