PRESS RELEASE: RP Welcomes Malema Hate Speech Ruling - Calls For Sanctions To The Full Extent Of The Law‍

PRESS RELEASE: RP Welcomes Malema Hate Speech Ruling - Calls for Sanctions to the Full Extent of the Law‍

The Referendum Party (RP) welcomes the Equality Court’s ruling finding EFF leader Julius Malema guilty of hate speech, and calls for sanctions to be pursued to the fullest extent of the law.

For too long Malema has been allowed to issue threats of violence and racist tirades against minorities, particularly White and Indian communities, with near total impunity. The Constitutional Court’s disgraceful ruling on “Kill the Boer” signalled that hate speech is permissible when directed at certain groups. South Africa has paid the price for that double standard with international condemnation, most recently when President Ramaphosa was publicly called out by President Trump at the White House in May this year.

Unfortunately, history suggests that this will not be the last racist tirade from Malema, the EFF, or any African nationalist party (including the ANC). These parties have consistently secured two-thirds of the vote nationally since 1994 - but they have never once won a majority in the Western Cape. This divide is clear: politicians like Malema are fundamentally rejected by the people of the Western Cape.

It is time for the Western Cape to democratically determine its own future - not to have it dictated by racist politicians like Julius Malema.