AFRIFORUM ASKS COURT TO GRANT A JUDGMENT BY DEFAULT AGAINST MALEMA

AfriForum will request the South Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg to grant a judgment by default against Julius Malema, after Malema had failed to submit pleas for the case of hate speech that AfriForum has initiated against Malema in the Equality Court. AfriForum's application in this regard has already been served on the relevant parties. This case arises from Malema's use of the "Shoot the Boer" slogan.

If the Court were to agree to AfriForum's request for a judgment by default, the Court is expected to consider and rule on the case within weeks.

AfriForum has asked the Court to issue an order which will declare Malema's "Shoot the Boer" statements to be hate speech and to grant an interdict prohibiting Malema from making inciting statements that will encourage and promote hostility towards any ethnic group, including Afrikaners. In addition the Court has been asked to grant a cost order in terms of which Malema will be responsible for all legal costs of this case, as well as of the two cases preceding the referral of the case to the High Court. The legal costs amount to thousands of rands.

According to Kallie Kriel, CEO of AfriForum, Malema has to realise that he is not above the law. "AfriForum will ensure that Malema is called to order, in spite of any efforts he may make to evade to court process," Kriel added.

Kriel also indicated that AfriForum will announce a comprehensive campaign next week aimed at garnering the support of the public against Malema's polarising statements.

Statement issued by Kallie Kriel, CEO: AfriForum, January 16 2011

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