Picture: Twitter
The South African Human Rights Commission has been urged to act after the leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters Julius Malema ignored a written notice to retract his statements that have been deemed as hate speech.
AfriForum submitted a complaint to the SAHRC in October following Malema’s alleged remarks at the party’s provincial meeting in the Western Cape.
The lobby group says, 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.”
On 8 November 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, in the meantime, AfriForum said Malema and the EFF have attacked the SAHRC in the media and said they refuse 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.”
When contacted for comment EFF national spokesperson Leigh-Ann Mathys simply said: "They'll see us in court".
