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AfriForum Spokesperson Barry Bateman addresses the media at the Sophiatown Police Station in Johannesburg on charges laid against Julius Malema and Fikile Mbalula on 13 June 2025.
The private prosecution unit of lobby group AfriForm has opened a case of crimen injuria against African National Congress Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula and Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema.
This is in connection with their comments on the principal of Bergview College in Matatiele in the Eastern Cape, Jaco Pieterse, in the alleged rape of a seven-year-old learner.
The lobby group’s other allegations against the two are contravening the Cyber Crimes Act and intimidation after allegedly falsely accusing Pieterson of being responsible for the rape of the minor.
JUSTIN: Jaco Pieterse – the Bergview College principal who was falsely accused of the alleged rape of CweCwe (7) – has begun laying charges against politicians. First, the laying of charges against EFF Leader, Julius Malema re: remarks he made in Sophiatown on 6/4/25 #SABCNews pic.twitter.com/iMv6qBFyLY
— Canny Maphanga (@CannyMaphanga) June 13, 2025
Addressing the media at the Sophiatown Police Station in Johannesburg, AfriForum Spokesperson Barry Bateman says, “SA has a rape crisis and falsely being accused of having committed this crime against a child is devastating. So, it’s on that basis that these charges are going to be pursued. I’ve just given an example – Mr Mbalula referred to Mr Peters as an animal and how AfriForum should be defending an animal who rapes children? This is simply unacceptable; there must be consequences for people who accuse others in the public domain.”
