The Sonke Gender Justice Network is going ahead with its bid to attach assets worth R50 000 from African National Congress Youth League president Julius Malema, after finding no proof that he had filed papers to appeal the Equality Court’s hate-speech finding against him.
“As far as we know they have not filed papers. As far as we know they should have gone there to attach,” said spokesperson Mbuyiselo Botha on Friday.
The organisation said Malema had failed to proceed with his appeal against the Equality Court’s ruling earlier this year in the harassment and hate speech case brought by them.
“He is now required to abide by the Equality Court’s order, being a public apology and payment of R50 000 to a women’s rights organisation [People Opposing Women Abuse].”
“A writ of execution has been executed by the sheriff for attachment of his property to obtain the R50 000 owing by Malema. Sonke is prepared to take further action if he fails to apologise,” said Botha.
Malema’s lawyer at the time, Tumi Mokwena, was not immediately available to comment and Malema’s spokesperson Floyd Shivambu said he would comment later.
Botha said Malema could be arrested if he did not apologise as ordered by the court and appealed to Malema to show that he was not above the law.
Sonke’s complaint came after Malema’s statement at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology on January 22 2009.
He said of women making accusations of rape that “when a woman didn’t enjoy it, she leaves early in the morning. Those who had a nice time will wait until the sun comes out, request breakfast and ask for taxi money”.
This was seen as a reference to the woman who had accused President Jacob Zuma of rape. Zuma was acquitted but the organisation was concerned about the stereotypes around women who say they have been raped. – Sapa