JOHANNESBURG – South African politician Julius Malema has been found guilty of hate speech over comments he made at a political rally in 2022.
During the rally, Malema, leader of the far-left Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Party, said: “No white man is going to beat me up. You must never be scared to kill.”
The country’s Equality Court, which handles cases of discrimination and can impose penalties such as public apologies, fines, or criminal prosecution, ruled that Malema’s statement “demonstrated an intent to incite harm.” However, the EFF insists the remarks were taken out of context.
This ruling comes amid heightened international attention. Earlier this year, Malema appeared in a video that former US President Donald Trump showed to South African President Cyril Ramaphosa at the White House. Trump falsely claimed that the South African government was sanctioning the killing of white farmers to seize their land. Following these claims, the US suspended all financial aid to South Africa, citing alleged anti-white and anti-American policies.
Malema has a history of controversial statements. He was previously convicted of hate speech for chanting an apartheid-era slogan at rallies, which included the words “shoot the boer” a reference to white Afrikaner farmers but that verdict was later overturned.
At present, no penalty has been issued for Malema’s latest conviction. As a lawmaker, though not part of government, Malema has repeatedly drawn criticism within South Africa and abroad. This year, he was denied a UK visa twice due to his public remarks, which also include support for the Palestinian militant group Hamas.
