AfriForum Hate Speech Case: Julius Malema Testifies at Equality Court, Denies “Kill the Boer” Allegations

AfriForum Hate Speech Case: Julius Malema Testifies at Equality Court, Denies “Kill the Boer” Allegations

  • Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema was accused by AfriForum of singing a song called Kill the Boer, which is a form of hate speech
  • Malema had been ordered to appear before the Equality Court, where he denied ever singing the song at all and stated that there is no footage of him doing so
  • The politician used the opportunity to explain the importance of land redistribution in building an equal South Africa

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JOHANNESBURG - Julius Malema, the leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) appeared before the Equality Court in the Afriforum hate speech case today (16 February).

The reason for the case is that Afriforum claims Malema and his party sang Kill the Boer (Dubul’ ibhunu). However, Malema denies the allegations and says there is no video footage of him singing the song.

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The song became controversial due to its intention of calling for white South Africans to be killed as a response to the oppression that occurred against people of colour during apartheid, TimesLIVE reports.

Julius Malema, EFF, Economic Freedom Fighters, Afriforum, Equality Court, Kill the Boer, racism, court, South Africa
EFF leader Julius Malema has denied singing "Kill the Boer." Images: RAJESH JANTILAL/AFP via Getty Image
Source: Getty Images

Malema's defence in the Afriforum hate speech trialagainst

While Malema denied the accusations levelled agaisnt him, he expressed his belief that South Africa would not be a truly democratic country until land is equally distributed amongst people of different races, according to SABC News.

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"When the colonialists and settlers arrived here they took our land by force. We remain a conquered nation for as long as we have not reclaimed the land and taken it back into the hands of real owners," Malema said.

The EFF leader said he is not aware of the Kill the Boer song's origins but remembers it being sung when he was a young child. He joined the anti-apartheid movement at nine years old and was taught the song then.

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Julius Malema and Floyd Shivambu slammed by Ronald Lamola at SONA 2022 debate

Reactions to Malema's remarks before Equality Court

@mulo_nkazi remarked:

"The mental intelligence of @Julius_S_Malema when answering questions is on another level."

@MkhizeZamo said:

"Free history lecture."

@ItsRadebe believes:

"Malema is leadership."

@LifaChris_ shared:

"We are all visitors of Africa and the world at large, no one was born with a piece of land."

@UnmovedLee said:

"They also act like settlers today. They still hate the people of the continent they are in."

Julius Malema and Floyd Shivambu slammed by Ronald Lamola at SONA 2022 debate

In other news about Julius Malema, Briefly News reported earlier that Ronald Lamola, the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, spoke at the State of the Nation Address (SONA) debate, where he criticised the EFF leader and his deputy, Julius Malema and Floyd Shivambu.

Lamola referred to Malema as an “EFF supreme leader” who calls the shots and makes others bend to his will. He added that he disagrees with the EFF leader's opposition to President Ramaphosa's SONA speech.

Lamola's disapproval of Shivambu is based on the EFF deputy leader's argument that South Africa has been a key player in China's economy. Lamola said that Shivambu does not understand China-South Africa relations.

Source: Briefly News

Authors:
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Claudia Gross (Editor) Claudia Gross holds an MA in Journalism from Stellenbosch University. She joined Briefly's Current Affairs desk in 2021. Claudia enjoys blending storytelling and journalism to bring unique angles to hard news. She looks forward to a storied journalistic career.