South African Court Finds Radical Politician Julius Malema Guilty of Hate Speech

A South African court on Wednesday found radical left-wing politician Julius Malema guilty of hate speech for telling his supporters at a 2022 rally that they should “never be scared to kill.”

Malema, the outspoken leader of the small opposition and populist Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party, has long faced criticism from South Africa’s white minority for his radical rhetoric and for singing the anti-apartheid song “Kill the Boer, kill the farmer”, which some argue incites anti-white violence.

Background and Controversies

At the 2022 rally, Malema referred to the 2020 altercation, telling supporters that “killing is part of a revolutionary act” and urging them not to fear violence.

Seized by the South African Human Rights Commission, the Equality Court ruled that Malema’s statements constituted hate speech, noting they demonstrated a clear intention to incite harm and promote hatred. The ruling stated:

“The remarks were an exhortation to kill white males who had participated in the 2020 incident and to respond violently to perceived racist behaviour.”

The EFF announced it would appeal the judgment, arguing that the court had ignored the political, historical, and ideological context of Malema’s speech.

In a statement, the party said: “The court ignored the nature of the occasion, which was a political assembly where revolutionary theory, strategy, and history are discussed, and treated the speech as if it were a direct operational command to commit murder.”

South Africa’s second-largest party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), which strongly opposes the EFF, welcomed the ruling as: “A victory against Malema’s campaign to incite racial division and hatred in our society.”

The DA added: “South Africa’s reputation on the global stage is at risk when such hatred is condoned or ignored.”

The verdict underscores the ongoing tensions around race and political rhetoric in South Africa, highlighting the legal boundaries of speech in a society still grappling with its apartheid legacy.