Why was Malaima South Africa condemned the hate speech again? | Civil rights news

South Africa’s opposition leader Julius Malima was convicted of hate speech by the country’s equality court on Wednesday this week due to his comments during a political gathering in 2022.

This is the third judgment of this example on the explicit and controversial leader in the Left Economic Freedom Party (EFF).

In May, US President Donald Trump accused South Africa Discrimination against eggs In the country, quoting Malima as a leader of an anti -egg movement. Relations between the two countries were scared this year, as Washington cut aid to Pretoria and imposed a high tariff.

Here is what we know about condemnation and running with the law:

Who is Julius Malima?

Malaima, 44, is a long -term politics in South Africa and the founder of EFF, a remarkable small left -wing party for its focus on South Africa’s black rights. Its members often do not wear red caps or military style clothes.

Malema is famous for its explicit criticism of the main ruling party, the African National Congress (ANC). He was formerly President of the African National Congress Party Association, until he was expelled in 2012 for confronting the then President Yaqoub Zuma.

The politician defended the controversial policies that many white South Africa sees them targeting, such as the confiscation of land without compensation and nationalization of South African mines, in favor of South Africa Black. The policies of the black apartheid era have witnessed deprived of reaching wealth and land. This legacy is still ongoing today, as most of the lands owned by the country are still white.

Malaima’s audio support for the Palestinian Armed Group, Hamas, has also sparked controversy.

In June, Malima was rejected by the UK visa because it was considered “not intended for the public interest,” according to the Ministry of Interior in the United Kingdom. EFF described this step as a “cheese.”

EFF has 39 members of Parliament. The matter came fourth in South Africa’s general elections last May, and not part of the ruling coalition government.

On Wednesday, in a case delivered by the Human Rights Committee in South Africa, the Western Cape Court in South Africa found that Malaima is guilty in hate speech due to the comments made in a march in Cape Town in October 2022, which the court said the country’s promotion of equality and prevention of the law of unfair discrimination.

While he made comments, Malima was addressing EFF colleagues. He referred to a previous incident in which party members reached strikes with some white population outside the Brakinfille Secondary School. Black demonstrators gathered outside the school to protest the alleged exclusion of black students.

After that, Malima criticized his colleagues for not taking revenge more strongly. He urged them to “follow” with one white man seen in the shots so that the man can come “properly.”

Malima went on to say that “the revolutionaries should not be afraid of killing,” and that racist actions should be interpreted as “an application to meet your maker with an immediate effect.”

He said: “No white man will hit me … The revolution requires that at some point there should be murder.”

On Wednesday, the court found that the statements “can be explained as” a clear intention to incite harm. “

The court said in its ruling: “While summoning a person acting as a racist may be acceptable, the call to kill is not.”

Punishment orders have not been submitted yet, but Malima may face an order to publicly apologize, or to compel compensation or recommended for criminal prosecution.

What did Malema and EFF say about the court ruling?

In a statement interacting with the ruling on Wednesday, EFF accused the court of presenting a “grave distortion” of history and political speech, and “attacking” democracy.

The party argued with Malima’s comments regarding the history of South Africa in the apartheid and subsequent liberation movements, and it was intended “in theory.” EFF argued that the court has removed the words of MALEMA outside the context and ignored the surrounding events, including the Brackenfell School incident and the date of the apartheid in the country.

“This decision is mainly defective and offends the reading of both context and the meaning of the speech,” said EF.

“When Malema talked about” war “, it was a reference to the conflict that cannot be reconciled between white superiority and black awareness, the war of ideas and regimes, and not instructions to kill people,” as stated in the statement.

Was Malema accused of hate speech before?

Yes, Malaima appeared before the court several times due to the alleged hate speech. He was convicted twice, although one ruling has turned.

In 2009, he was convicted of hate speech against a woman who accused former President Zuma of rape. At that time, Malaima and Zuma were close. In a comment, Malema said the woman “spent a nice time” with Zuma. The Court of Equality has publicly ordered him to apologize to the accused, and he paid 50,000 Rand ($ 2,824) to a center for the assaulted women.

It was again condemned by hate speech in 2011 due to the singing of the song ISIXHOSA DUBUL’ABHUNU or “Kill the Boer” in a mass rally. SongWhich refers to white African speakers, became common in the eighties of the last century when the black opposition to the rule of the white minority was rising. The country’s apartheid government collapsed in 1994, when blacks managed to vote for the first time.

Later, in 2022, after Malima was transferred to court because of the singing of the songs charged with racist, the Equality Court canceled this previous ruling, and the acceptance of Malima’s arguments that the lyrics of the songs did not mean literally, but as a metaphor for resistance.

The African lobby groups, such as Aforum, continued to appeal the cancellation of this ruling. In May, the Constitutional Court rejected another lawsuit to resume the case.

Has Trump cited a night in allegations of “white genocide”?

Yes, US President Donald Trump referred to Malima’s speeches as evidence of the alleged “white genocide” in South Africa.

Trump, as well as senior officials in his administration, including former counselor Elon Musk, supported the demands of South African African groups in South Africa.

However, many South African experts exposed this claim, and they say there is no evidence that white people are targeting their race in the country.

Nevertheless, Trump used these allegations to justify him Cut out the external aid To South Africa in March and the imposition of high commercial fees on the country. He also criticized South Africa to take Israel to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for allegations that it was The genocide in Gaza.

In February, the Trump administration launched Refugee program For white South Africa, even as the United States stops immigrant protection programs for people from Afghanistan, for example. some 59 of South Africa whites It has since immigrated to the United States as refugees as part of the new program. In addition, the Ambassador of South Africa to the United States, I Ibrahim Rasol, was expelled in May.

When President Cyril Ramavusa visited the White House in May, in an attempt to rebuild the two countries. Agreeing relationshipsTrump Face With ancient clips of MALEMA and songs and dermatized eggs that are targeted.

Ramavusa explained that EFF in Malema is not part of the ruling coalition government and that he is opposed to the President of the African National Congress Party. Trump also told the targeted white South Africa allegations, although he acknowledged that the country was facing high crime rates.

Mousse, the former Trump advisor, was also present at the prominent meeting. Musk, who is carrying South Africa, published clips of Malaima’s songs and accused the politician of “promoting the activity of the white genocide.”

How are the relations between South Africa and the United States in general?

Tensions remain high between the United States and South Africa. On Wednesday, South Africa Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola, while talking to the press, accused the United States of the preferential treatment of South Africa whites and Washington from the second apartheid.

“The refugee program is a preferential treatment for Avrkane,” Lamola said. He added: “The preferential treatment of a specific distinguished group, Afrikanis, who do not escape from any genocide in this country, is definitely the apartheid 2.0.”