AfriForum reports Julius Malema to Human Rights Commission; calls on members to add pressure

20 October 2022 

The civil rights organisation AfriForum has submitted complaints against EFF leader, Julius Malema, at the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) for incitement of violence and hate speech. This follows after Malema said at an EFF rally in the Western Cape that, “you [EFF supporters] must never be scared to kill” and that “a revolution demands that at some point there must be killing, because the killing is part of a revolutionary act”. AfriForum is demanding that the SAHRC investigate Malema’s comments and that they take an uncompromising stance and action against this violent rhetoric.

AfriForum urges its members to help put pressure on the SAHRC to urgently investigate Malema for these comments by visiting the webpage www.stopmalema.co.za – an easy way to submit a standard complaint.

“The political environment in South Africa keeps radicalising. Every time a politician is let off the hook for extremist or violent rhetoric, it leads to the escalation of such rhetoric. It is unfortunate that currently political elites are often given a free pass by those who have the authority to intervene. Therefore, it’s so important for AfriForum to step in and ensure that there are consequences for incitement of violence by politicians,” says Ernst van Zyl, Campaign Officer for Strategy and Content at AfriForum.

“In light of a political environment increasingly characterised by politicians threatening violence against minority groups with impunity, AfriForum will continue to sharpen and intensify the training and readiness of our community security structures. We strongly encourage the public to get involved with such initiatives,” Van Zyl concludes.

Issued by Ernst van Zyl, Campaign Officer: Strategy and Content, AfriForum, 20 October 2022