ANC, Malema, AfriForum and TAU SA reach historic settlement in Malema hate speech case

The ANC, Julius Malema, AfriForum and TAU SA signed a historic settlement agreement in the Malema hate speech case in which the ANC and Malema acknowledge that certain words in certain struggle songs can be experienced as hurtful by minority communities. They undertook to encourage their supporters to refrain from hurtful actions. Tomorrow (1 November) the Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein will be approached to make the settlement agreement a court order.   

According to Kallie Kriel, CEO of AfriForum, the organisation is happy with the agreement that was reached. ‘From the outset AfriForum's actions were aimed at preventing hurtful songs from being sung about Afrikaners. This agreement, in which the ANC commits itself in a court order to avoid the use of hurtful words in songs, is exactly what AfriForum hoped to achieve,' Kriel said. According to Kriel this agreement means that the long process which AfriForum and TAU SA had to follow in the courts to finally reach a meaningful agreement was definitely worth the effort.

Kriel noted that the agreement was of historical significance since it is the first time since 1994 that the ANC and institutions from a minority community have entered into a written political agreement about matters that closely affect minorities.

The agreement includes, among other things, that the:

• ANC and Malema recognise that certain words in certain struggle songs may be experienced as hurtful by members of minority communities; 
• ANC and Malema commit to counselling and encouraging their respective leadership and supporters to act with restraint to avoid the experience of such hurt;
• parties agree that it is crucial to mutually recognise and respect the right of all communities to celebrate and protect their cultural heritage and freedom; and
• parties commit to a continued formal dialogue between leaders of the ANC and leaders of AfriForum, TAU SA and other interested parties to promote mutual understanding of their respective cultural heritages and aspirations. 

Statement issued by Kallie Kriel, CEO: AfriForum, October 31 2012

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