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Xanthea Limberg, the President of the Young Independent Democrats (YID) has welcomed the ruling of the Equality Court that ANCYL President Julius Malema was guilty of hate speech and harassment.

‘This ruling sends the message to men everywhere that we cannot make light of the sexual and physical violence experienced by so many South African women every day,' Ms Limberg says.

‘Malema's statements were disrespectful to all women, they undermined the core values enshrined in our Constitution and showed a complete disregard for those that gave their lives during the fight for equality and the struggle against Apartheid.

‘We in the YID hope that in addition to paying R50 000 to a centre for abused women and making a public apology, as ordered by the Court, Malema should step forward and volunteer to roll up his sleeves and help out at a gender-based organisation,' says Limberg.

‘Coming as it does so close to Human Rights Day, the importance of this ruling cannot be overstated. It also sets a precedent for those leaders that disregard their responsibilities to the marginalised in our society by shouting their mouths off without thinking.

‘The Young Independent Democrats would also like to applaud Sonke Gender Justice for the pivotal role that they played in showing South Africans how we can breathe life into our rights contained in the Constitution,' Limberg says.

‘Julius Malema should use this ruling as an opportunity to start walking the talk by treating women with respect, paying his taxes and no longer using his position to further his own business interests.

‘We sincerely hope that he will turn over a new leaf,' says Limberg.