US EditionDA and AfriForum celebrate Equality Court ruling against Julius Malema's hate speech
The Equality Court found Malema's 2022 remarks incited racial violence, with the Economic Freedom Fighters planning to appeal against the ruling that includes liability for legal costs.
- Wednesday's ruling in the Cape High Court determined the Western Cape Equality Court found Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema guilty of hate speech for remarks including `You must never be scared to kill`, breaching Section 10 of the Equality Act.
- The case began after a 2020 clash at Brackenfell High School involving parents and EFF members, and AfriForum's 2022 complaint to the South African Human Rights Commission initiated the Equality Court litigation.
- Judge Mark Sher ruled that Julius Malema's remarks were a clear instruction to incite racial violence, held the Economic Freedom Fighters party and Malema jointly liable for complainants' costs, and condemned his call to murder white males as unacceptable.
- The Democratic Alliance welcomed the ruling as a victory for the law, while the Economic Freedom Fighters said it will appeal and the South African Human Rights Commission announced a separate relief process.
- Observers noted the ruling reinforces that freedom of expression is limited, condemns harmful rhetoric by political leaders and public figures, and affects South Africa's international reputation amid ongoing appeals.
15 Articles
15 Articles
South Africa court rules political leader’s statements constitute hate speech
South Africa’s Equality Court ruled Thursday that Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema’s statements at a rally on October 16, 2022, constituted hate speech, finding that they were a direct call to violence based on race and political affiliation. The court emphasized that these statements were not metaphorical or political commentary but “clear exhortations to violence” with the intent to incite harm and hatred. The South African…
EFF to appeal Equality Court hate speech ruling against Malema – The Mail & Guardian
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) says it will take the Equality Court’s ruling against its leader Julius Malema to the Supreme Court of Appeal after he was found guilty of hate speech for remarks made at a rally in Cape Town in October 2022. “The EFF has already instructed our lawyers to begin the process of challenging this ruling at the Supreme Court of Appeal. We do so not only in defence of our commander-in-chief but in defence of politic…
Malema fights on as VF+, DA revel in hate-speech ruling
The Freedom Front Plus (VF+) and the Democratic Alliance (DA) have welcomed the legal setback for Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema. The Cape Town Equality Court found Malema guilty of hate speech over comments he made in 2022. However, the EFF plans to challenge the ruling, saying it is a grave distortion of history, philosophy and political speech. The case stemmed from complaints lodged by the Human Rights Commission over a…
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