Malema guilty of hate speech

By Ofentse Mokae
15 March 2010

ANC Youth League leader Julius Malema has been found guilty of hate speech.

Magistrate Colleen Colliss of the Equality Court in Johannesburg found that Malema’s comments on President Jacob Zuma’s rape accuser amounted to hate speech and harassment.

The Sonke Gender Justice Network took Malema to the Equality Court for suggesting the woman enjoyed herself with Zuma because she stayed for breakfast and asked for taxi money.

He made the statement while addressing students at the Cape Peninsula University of Tecnology in Cape Town last year.

Colliss said Malema’s comments were regarded as hurtful.

The youth league leader and his supports were absent from the court to hear the judgment.

Reports from the court say there was a sigh of relief from the lawyers acting on behalf of the Sonke Gender Justice Network when the ruling was made.

The ANCYL leader was ordered to publicly apologise for his comments and pay R50 000 to a shelter for abused women.

Colliss reportedly concluded her judgment with a word of advice to Malema.

"Mr Malema, being a man of vast political influence, be wary of turning into a man that often speaks but never talks," Colliss said.