SAHRC: Sufficient reason to find Malema and EFF’s statements as hate speech and incitement to violence; AfriForum demands action after success of pressure campaign

9 November 2022 

Following the civil rights organisation AfriForum’s campaign to mobilize their members and the public to submit complaints to the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) in October 2022, the SAHRC has found that there is sufficient reason to have some of Julius Malema and the EFF’s statements be declared as hate speech and incitement to violence. The SAHRC gave the EFF and Malema ten days to retract these statements and to apologise.

Despite these findings, the EFF has already issued a media statement in which the party refuses to comply with the findings of the SAHRC. The SAHRC has indicated that it will approach the Equality Court to obtain an interim interdict if Malema and the EFF do not comply with their finding.

The incident took place on 16 October 2022 at the EFF’s provincial meeting in the Western Cape. Among other things, Malema said during the event: “You should never be afraid to kill, a revolution requires killing at some point, because killing is part of a revolutionary act.” AfriForum immediately lodged a complaint with the SAHRC. AfriForum also put pressure on the SAHRC to investigate the matter by asking its members and the public to submit complaints through the organisation’s website.

“AfriForum considers this development to be only the first step to stop incitement to violence and hate speech by the EFF and Malema. AfriForum cannot allow the political environment to become so radicalized that politicians can openly commit hate speech against minorities without consequences,” says Ernst van Zyl, Campaign Officer for Strategy and Content at AfriForum.

“AfriForum welcomes the SAHRC’s findings, but if their condemnation is not urgently and effectively followed up by action, it does not mean much to help protect minorities,” concludes Van Zyl.

AfriForum is monitoring this important case closely and will ensure that the SAHRC takes the action that it threatens to.

Issued by Ernst van Zyl, Campaign Officer: Strategy and content, AfriForum, 9 November 2022