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South African opposition politician Julius Malema has been found guilty of hate speech over remarks he made during a 2022 political rally.
“No white man is going to beat me up,” Malema declared at the rally, adding, “You must never be scared to kill.”
The country’s equality court ruled that his words “demonstrated an intent to incite harm.” However, Malema’s far-left Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party insisted the comments were taken out of context.
Malema recently featured in a video US President Donald Trump played to South African President Cyril Ramaphosa during a meeting at the White House. In the video, Trump falsely accused the South African government of sanctioning the killing of white farmers to seize their land. Following that meeting, the United States cut all financial aid to South Africa, claiming the country was pursuing anti-white and anti-American policies.
Malema has faced similar charges before. He was previously convicted of hate speech for repeating an apartheid-era chant containing the phrase “shoot the boer,” a reference to white Afrikaner farmers. That verdict was later overturned.
Equality courts in South Africa hear discrimination-related cases and can impose penalties ranging from public apologies to financial compensation or criminal prosecution. No order has yet been made regarding Malema’s punishment in this latest case.
Although a lawmaker, Malema does not hold government office. His rhetoric has long drawn criticism in South Africa, and this year he was twice denied a UK visa over his public statements, which include vocal support for the Palestinian militant group Hamas.
