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EFF leader Julius Malema addresses the Nigerian Bar Association Conference in Enugu on August 25, 2025.
AfriForum has welcomed a Cape Town Equality Court ruling that found Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema guilty of hate speech.
The decision relates to a 2022 speech tied to a 2020 incident at Brackenfell High School.
Judge Mark Sher ruled that Malema’s remarks calling for violence against white men were meant to incite hatred.
The EFF was also held co-responsible for endorsing Malema’s statements.
AfriForum’s Head of Public Relations, Ernst van Zyl says, “The bigger picture is the fact that unfortunately the political environment in South Africa has become fraught with incitement of violence and hate speech against particularly minority groups in this country, and therefore court findings and judgments that find parties and individuals guilty of that type of hate speech, and incitement of violence is very welcome.”
Van Zyl says, “It’s a stand that needs to be taken, not just by a private individual and by regular citizens but also by institutions like the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC), who was involved in this case, and also the courts of this country.”
Good news! @Julius_S_Malema and the @EFFSouthAfrica guilty of hate speech – @afriforum welcomes court ruling.
— Kallie Kriel (@kalliekriel) August 27, 2025
