By: Sello Theletsane
Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema is leaving nothing to chance in his legal showdown with Patriotic Alliance (PA) deputy president Kenny Kunene.
The matter is to be heard at the Johannesburg High Court sitting as the Equality Court tomorrow ((Monday 12 September) In an unprecedented move, Malema has hired four advocates led by Advocate Tembeka Ngcukaitobi SC in a case in which he wants Kunene to apologize or pay R1m for calling him a cockroach.
The other legal eagles on Malema’s team are Adv Kameel Premhid, Adv Mfesane Ka Siboto, and Adv Suhail Mohammed. Even in his recent case in the Johannesburg High Court in the ’Dubul’ ibhunu’, translated as “Shoot the boer” or “Kill the boer”, a case brought by Afriforum, Malema hired only a single advocate.
Kunene is represented by Aadil Mayet of Mayet Attorneys Incorporated and Advocate Greta Engelbrecht SC while the Patriotic Alliance is represented by E. Botha and Y Erasmus Inc. Malema approached the Equality Court claiming Kunene had committed an act of hate speech against him by calling him a cockroach during an interview on national television.
Malema seeks to import the use of cockroach on the alleged Rwandan genocide into the South African context. He relies upon the basis of Hutus and Tutsis as to why the term cockroach should be declared hate speech.
Kunene’s argument is that the use of the terms does not amount to hate speech within the confines of the law. Kunene’s defence is that he uttered these words at the spur of the moment as he had been brandished with the questions impromptu during the interview.
Kunene is adamant that he would never apologise and still stands by his words, saying he was ready to defend his words. The matter is being convened before Judge Makume at the Equality Court sitting in the Gauteng Local Division High Court.
Kenny did not say Kill the Cocroach so he did not mean anyone any harm
Is this not the same “politician” that would die for Zuma?
I think Malema wants money for campaigning and thus he is doing this, because what he did was worst than calling someone a cocroach, when he screamed, Kill the boer kill the farmer. ”
That is clearly hate speech. Our country is down the gutters because of such deceivers.
1mil for what? To campaign or buy expensive watches with Kenny’s money haibo kokorot