AfriForum, Malema mull settlement in hate speech case

AfriForum has received an email from ANC Youth League president Julius Malema’s lawyers about the possibility of reaching an out of court settlement over his hate speech trial, the lobby group’s lawyer said on Tuesday.

“We received an email from them inviting us to make suggestions,” said Willie Spies.

“Obviously, if we can achieve with an agreement something similar or better than a favourable court order then we would love to discuss that with them,” he said.

However, AfriForum was still preparing for the trial and was confident that it would be successful.

“We believe we are in a strong position,” he said.

AfriForum took Malema to court in the hopes of restricting his singing of the song Ayesaba Amagwala, translated as “The cowards are scared”, which contains the lyrics “Dubul’ ibhunu”, or “Kill the boer”.

It said it found the song to be threatening to farmers and Afrikaners.

Malema and ANC representatives, including the party’s secretary general Gwede Mantashe, told the court the lyrics were from a song from the struggle era.

It was sung now as part of the ongoing battle against economic oppression.

‘Social issue’
On Tuesday, Malema told South African Broadcasting Corporation radio news that he was willing to discuss the possibility of reaching an out of court settlement.

“The settling of the matter out of court is possible and that is what we have always called for,” he said.

“But that matter will not need a once-off meeting. It’s a societal engagement. It’s a social issue.”

ANCYL spokesperson Floyd Shivambu said the league believed the court would decide in Malema’s favour.

“We are not scared about what’s going to come out of court ... This issue doesn’t even belong in court,” he said.

Closing argument for Malema’s hate speech trial begins on May 19, the day after the local government elections. - Sapa