Riyaz Patel
The Equality Court has dismissed, with costs, Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan’s hate speech application against EFF leader Julius Malema.
During an address to EFF supporters outside the state capture inquiry in November last year, Malema launched a scathing attack on Gordhan, branding him a “dog of white monopoly capital,” and telling his backers to be “ready for war” against the minister.
Judge Roland Sutherland ruled Thursday that while the comments by Malema may indeed be hateful, they did not fall within the terms of the Equality Act.
Malema also accused Gordhan of being behind the purging of black workers at state-owned enterprises.
“It’s only the political parties and the opposition in particular that can hold the state accountable, hold the ruling party accountable. In the absence of the political speeches and political rights and the rights of freedom of speech of the political opposition, we might as well close shop,” EFF Secretary General Godrich Gardee said after the ruling.
Gordhan’s legal team said they were studying the judgment.
