South Africa
SAHRC finds Malema comments referred to commission not hate speech─── 12:26 Wed, 27 Mar 2019
The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has ruled on five complaints against EFF leaders Julius Malema and Godrich Gardee, finding that none of the utterances referred to the body legally constitute hate speech.
The statements referred to the commission were made during unrelated and separate occasions between 2016 and 2018.
The complaints against Malema included the singing of the song "Kiss the boer" and his June 2017 comments on Indians ill-treating black people in KwaZulu-Natal.
The SAHRC found that "[o]bjective assessment shows that Mr Malema was calling for the proper treatment of black people by Indians".
Recently, Malema again focused in on the relationship between Indian and black people.
SAHRC chairperson Advocate Bongani Majola said the organisation considered each complaint separately as the statements were made at different times and in different contexts.
However, the commission dealt with them all at the same time.
Majola said while the comments may be deemed "offensive", they do not meet the legal threshold to be classified hate speech.
The complaint against Gardee relates to comments he made against DA leader Mmusi Maimane.
This is a developing story. More information to follow.
