Neelam Rahim | neelam@radioislam.co.za

2 min read
27 November 2022: 3:25 pm CAT

The South African Human Rights Commission will take the EFF and its leader Julius Malema to the Equality Court. The Commission wants to make an urgent application for an interdict regarding Malema’s comments at the EFF’s Western Cape people’s assembly. The Commission gave Malema 10 working days to apologise for the remarks, which have been called an incitement of violence and hate speech, but the party refused.

In discussion with South African Human Rights Commissioner Andre Guam told Radio Islam International the EFF mentioned in a statement released that the matter should have been investigated first.

Guam argues this is not the case as the Commission has the discretion to follow procedures of either investigating the matter or approaching the Court.

“We have exercised the discretion in favour of approaching the court.”

Arguments will be put up in Court, and the EFF and Malema will have all the opportunities available to them to voice their opinions on why their speech does not amount to incitement of violence and hate speech.

According to Guam, a significant concern is that political leaders and parties should tone down their speech regarding how they express themselves about matters dear to them and their policies.

He said the Commission has met on occasion with the party chiefments to express and bring across to them the importance of their speech.

“In the view of the Human Rights Commission based on this matter, the actions is not assisting in the project of social cohesion and nation building,” he added.

Listen to the interview with Annisa Essack and Andre Gaum on Radio Islam’s podcast below.