AfriForum And SAAI Urge Global Sanctions Against Julius Malema After Hate Speech Ruling

AfriForum and the Southern African Agri Initiative (SAAI) have escalated their fight against the controversial “Kill the Boer” chant by urging countries across the globe to impose targeted sanctions on Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema.

Head of Public Relations at AfriForum, Ernst van Zyl, said the move was necessary given Malema’s repeated inflammatory remarks.

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“There are many court cases and different campaigns and stories attached to Mr Malema but with this campaign in particular, it is a call from AfriForum and SAAI for further international repercussions for Julius Malema for among other things, inciting violence against minorities in South Africa. This comes after many years of Julius Malema getting away with hate speech with impunity,” said van Zyl.

Equality Court Finds Malema Guilty of Hate Speech

The call for sanctions follows last week’s ruling by the Equality Court, which found Malema guilty of hate speech over comments made in 2022 at the EFF’s 3rd provincial People’s Assembly in the Western Cape.

The case stemmed from the Brackenfell High School incident in November 2020, where EFF members clashed with locals amid claims of racism at a private matric farewell event. Malema’s remarks, the court ruled, amounted to an exhortation to kill white men who were allegedly involved.

Despite being given 10 days to retract the statements at the time, the EFF refused to do so.

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In response, the EFF dismissed the Equality Court’s judgment, describing it as “an attack on the democratic space and the right to articulate revolutionary politics.”

An EFF source told SurgeZirc SA that the party will appeal the ruling.

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While Malema has long faced accusations of hate speech, AfriForum and SAAI believe international sanctions could be the strongest deterrent yet against what they call a pattern of incitement.

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