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The civil rights organisation AfriForum will today submit charges of racism and discrimination against the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) as organisation, as well as Julius Malema (Leader of the EFF) and Mbuyiseni Ndlozi (Spokesperson of the EFF) as individuals at the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC).

These charges emanate from comments that Malema made this past weekend at the EFF’s political rally in Durban, as well as a statement that Ndlozi subsequently issued.

In the charges, AfriForum argues that the EFF’s conduct is a transgression of the provisions regarding discrimination as contained in the Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act, 2000 (Act No. 4 of 2000).

According to news reports, Malema said the following: “Here in Durban, here in KZN, everything strategic is given to Indians ... every big tender ... they are the ones who own everything. We are saying share with our people. They are ill-treating our people. This is not anti-Indian, it’s the truth, they must treat our people properly.”

Ndlozi subsequently stated in a media statement that the EFF is standing firmly behind Malema and added that Indians think that they are better than black people and this is manifested in the way that they act toward black people.

Ernst Roets, Deputy CEO of AfriForum, says that AfriForum is founded on the protection of the rights of minorities. “Indians is a minority group and are also being targeted as a community by the EFF. The EFF is driving a populistic agenda in which racism against minorities is being incited in an attempt to mobilise support.”

Roets furthermore says that AfriForum expects the SAHRC to speedily investigate the matter, as well as to take the necessary steps in this regard.

Issued by AfriForum