The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) says it has instructed its lawyers to challenge the Equality Court ruling that found its leader Julius Malema guilty of hate speech.
The Equality Court found that Malema’s remarks during the EFF Western Cape 3rd national people’s assembly in October 2022 could reasonably be construed as demonstrating a clear intention to incite harm.
Parts of Malema’s speech included “This is a war between white supremacy and black consciousness, you must know the two will never meet.” And “Racism is violence and violence can only be ended by violence.”
EFF TO APPEAL RULING ON JULIUS MALEMA’S HATE SPEECH
Reacting to the ruling, the EFF said Section 16 of the Constitution guarantees freedom of expression, including political expression, and courts in the country have previously affirmed this in the case against Malema for singing “Kill the Boer”, recognising that political speech enjoys heightened protection in a democracy.
“This judgement ignores that principle and instead aligns itself with an agenda that seeks to delegitimise revolutionary discourse,” the Red Berets said.
The party said it notes the ruling as an attack on the democratic space and the right to articulate revolutionary politics.
“The language of revolution cannot be sanitised to comfort the sensitivities of those who continue to enjoy the fruits of colonial dispossession and have never experienced racial violence whatsoever. The real violence is the daily reality of landlessness, unemployment, and racism that black people endure.
“The EFF has instructed our lawyers to begin the process of challenging this ruling at the Supreme Court of Appeals. We do so not only in defence of our commander-in-chief but in defence of political freedom, historical truth, and the right of oppressed people to speak boldly against their oppression.”
POLITICAL PARTIES REJOICE OVER JUNU’S GUILTY VERDICT
Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance and Freedom Front Plus have welcomed the ruling by the Equality Court.
The DA said the ruling against Julius Malema is a victory for the rule of law, for the Constitution, and for all South Africans who cherish the values of a free, fair, and non-racial society.
“For too long, the world has watched as Julius Malema has incited violence, hatred, and division, attempting to unstitch the very fabric of South African society.”
The FF Plus said it hopes that the Court’s finding sends a loud and clear message to everyone in South Africa: Hate speech and racial division are intolerable.
“And the habit of using context as a blatant excuse to justify it is even more unacceptable. The Freedom Front Plus fully concurs with the saying that the mouth speaks what overflows from the heart.”
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE EQUALITY COURT’S RULING ON JULIUS MALEMA’S OCTOBER 2022 SPEECH?
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