Equality Court Told That Malema’s Attack On Journalists Is ‘Metaphorical’

Riyaz Patel

Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema and party members sent tweets which targeted journalists in a way that constitute hate speech, the Equality Court sitting in the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria heard Monday.

The South African National Editors Forum (Sanef) and five journalists have taken the EFF to the Equality Court over what they allege is the “intimidation” of journalists.

Sanef maintains that the court has jurisdiction to entertain the matter.

The journalists are Adriaan Basson, Pauli van Wyk, Barry Bateman, Ranjeni Munusamy and Max du Preez.

Adv. Tembeka Ngcukaitobi appearing for the EFF argued that Sanef has no authority seeking relief from the courts.

Adv. Daniel Berger SC, representing Sanef and the journalists, said the applicants had brought the application to protect themselves and their colleagues from the “abuse” they had endured.