The civil rights organisation AfriForum and Solidarity trade union today laid criminal charges of defamation, conspiracy to incite violence and assault by means of threats at the Lyttelton police station against Julius Malema, leader of the EFF. 

More than 1 000 police officers have approached Solidarity to express their concern about threatening statements Malema recently made against members of the South African Police Service (SAPS). Malema inter alia said they (the EFF) were not afraid of the police and would fight police members in their own homes with their own families. Malema said the EFF would take on members of the police “one by one” in their comfort zones and teach them that nobody will be able to overcome the power of the masses. 

“It is clear that Malema still believes he is above the law. The reason why Malema has been making these statements in the first place is that so far there have been no consequences for all the previous incidents where he openly incited violence. If the police do not deal with this matter sufficiently seriously, Malema will see it as confirmation that he is indeed above the law,” says Ernst Roets, Head of Policy and Action at AfriForum. 

“Solidarity has been inundated by police members from across the country expressing their shock, dismay and utter disgust about Malema’s words and threats. It is unacceptable for a political leader who has taken an oath to honour and respect the Constitution and other legislation of the country, to rage against the police in such a violent manner,” says Renate Barnard, Solidarity’s Sector Co-ordinator for the Public Sector, who also deals with the police. 

AfriForum’s Private Prosecution Unit will continue monitoring the matter to ensure that justice is done. If Malema is not prosecuted by the National Prosecution Authority the Private Prosecution Unit will prosecute him privately.

Issued by AfriForum