HRC finally acts against Malema after complaint from FF Plus

9 November 2022

The FF Plus welcomes the finding by the Human Rights Commission (HRC) that Julius Malema, leader of the EFF, is guilty of hate speech and incitement to violence.

Last month, the FF Plus lodged a complaint against Malema with the HRC after Malema made inflammatory statements at the EFF's provincial election conference in the Western Cape.

He said, among other things, that a white man who allegedly assaulted EFF members at a school must be "attended to", and that a revolutionary must not be "afraid to kill".

According to the HRC, other transgressions in terms of the Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act may also have been committed through banners that the EFF displayed at its conference.

The HRC's response is specifically welcomed seeing as numerous complaints lodged by the FF Plus and other organisations against Malema over the years have come to nothing.

It clearly created the impression with Malema that he is invincible, and allowed to insult, threaten and degrade without any repercussions.

The HRC must demonstrate that racially divisive statements will no longer be tolerated in South Africa. Simply condemning such statements without taking appropriate steps means nothing.

So, the FF Plus is calling on the HRC to take Malema to the Equality Court. Resentful individuals must realise that there no room for racists in South Africa.

This finding also unequivocally proves that the statement by the DA's "diversity consultant", Asanda Ngoasheng, who told learners in Fish Hoek that white people are the only ones who can be racists is a complete misconception.

Racists are not identified by the colour of their skin, but by what lies in their hearts.

The unconstitutional and unacceptable conduct of people like Malema must not be tolerated any longer. It has no place in a constitutional democracy.

Issued by Pieter Groenewald, FF Plus leader, 9 November 2022