AfriForum is seeking feedback from the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) after the rights group served Julius Malema and the EFF with a written notice to withdraw and apologize for allegedly making statements that incited violence.
The complaint follows comments Malema made in October last year at the third Western Cape provincial People’s Assembly.
‘You must not be afraid to kill’
Referring to the incident that took place at Brackenfell High School in 2021, and the footage of a white man attacking an EFF member, Malema asked why the (white) man was not found and taken to “an isolated room and met the man properly”.
This is followed by the advice to the members that “… you must not be afraid of killing. Revolution demands that at some point there must be killing, because killing is part of revolutionary action.
NOW READ: ‘Don’t be afraid to kill’: AfriForum reports Malema to SAHRC for ‘inciting’ violence
Malema was given a deadline
“SAHRC issued a written notice to Malema on 8 November 2022 to withdraw his statement, which SAHRC found to be hate speech and incitement to violence, and to apologise. If Malema fails to comply with the request, SAHRC promises to take Malema to the Equality Court to obtain an interim ban ,” said Ernst van Zyl, campaign officer for strategy and content at AfriForum.
AfriForum has also requested an electronic copy of Malema’s apology for showing one.
‘Is Julius Malema above the law?’
“If the Human Rights Commission does not keep its promises, how can those targeted by hate speech or incitement to violence meet their promises in the future? Is Julius Malema above the law?
“Has he become too high profile for (the HRC) to take to court? Does the HRC treat hate speech against certain minority groups as less serious than others? I hope AfriForum, our members and the general public will get clear answers,” he said. Van Zyl.
AfriForum said it will keep its members and the public informed of the latest developments on the matter.
Court in recess
Commission spokesperson Wisani Baloyi said that the Commission has responded to Afriforum’s request and informed them that they are taking Equality Court action against the EFF in December 2022.
“We are now waiting for further directions from the court, which is currently in recess,” said Baloyi.
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