AfriForum opposes Malema's appeal bid

16 Oct 2011 16:07 - Staff Reporter

AfriForum has given notice of its intention to oppose ANCYL leader Julius Malema's Constitutional Court appeal against a guilty hate speech verdict.

AfriForum has given notice of its intention to oppose African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) President Julius Malema’s Constitutional Court appeal against a guilty hate speech verdict, the civil rights initiative said on Sunday.

Malema and the ANC are asking the Constitutional Court to make an urgent decision on the status of the hate song “kill the boer”.

He was found guilty of hate speech last month in the Equality Court, sitting at the South Gauteng High Court.

AfriForum said it opposed Malema’s application on the grounds that it was understood that ANC supporters apparently planned to sing the song during the party’s 100 year anniversary festivities in January.

Last week, ANCYL member Tokelo Nhlapo sang the song on the campus of the University of the Witwatersrand.

AfriForum will this week decide what action to take against Nhlapo.

Willie Spies, AfriForum’s legal representative, said the ANC’s decision to justify and protect hate songs from the struggle era had created a culture of hatred which had to be stopped.

. .