Malema's 'hate speech' case to start at Equality Court

This after AfriForum submitted a complaint to the SAHRC in October 2020 following Malema’s alleged remarks at the party’s provincial meeting in the Western Cape.

The lobby group said, among other things, Malema said: "You must never be afraid to kill, a revolution requires killing at some point because killing is part of the revolutionary act."

The SAHRC gave Malema a written notice to retract the statements within ten days and to apologise.

The SAHRC said should Malema not do this, the civil rights organisation would take him to the Equality Court to obtain an interim interdict.

However, AfriForum said Malema and the EFF have attacked the SAHRC in the media and said they had refused to withdraw the comments which the SAHRC labelled as hate speech.

"Malema and the EFF believe that they are above the law," said Ernst van Zyl, AfriForum’s Campaign Officer for Strategy.

"This is largely due to Malema and the EFF getting away with escalating levels of hate speech and incitement to violence over the years.

"The SAHRC has given their word that they will take Malema to the Equality Court if he does not respond to their demands within ten days. Malema and the EFF have made it clear that they do not concern themselves with the SAHRC’s demands, therefore, the SAHRC must now keep their promise.

"AfriForum will keep a watchful eye on this matter."

Malema maintained that his speech was taken out of context and that the was not allowed to present his version.

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