The EFF’s President Julias Malema Declares That He Will Become South Africa’s President
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The EFF’s President Julias Malema Declares That He Will Become South Africa’s President
Julius Malema, the leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), has said that he will be elected president of South Africa in the near future, regardless of how AfriForum feels.
Malema returned to the Equality Court in Johannesburg on Thursday to testify in the AfriForum hate speech lawsuit against him, his party, and EFF MP Mbuyiseni Ndlozi for reportedly singing the notorious struggle song Dubul’ibhunu, which translates to “shot the boer” or “kill the boer.”
During cross-examination, Mark Oppenheimer, counsel for AfriForum, asked the EFF leader if he thought his party would be elected to government, considering that the Red Berets only garnered 10.8% of the vote in the 2019 general elections and presently control no municipalities.
“My point to you is that, from what I hear, your party received roughly 10% of the vote. It has no chance of ever being voted to government as it is. “Do you currently run any municipalities?” Oppenheimer inquired of Malema.
“Whether you like it or not, I’m going to be the president of this country,” Malema responded to the question.
“And I shall rule over the affairs of this country, including you,” he added. I believe you must begin to acclimate to that reality. The sooner you do this, the fewer chest pains you’ll have when that truth hits.”
When Oppenheimer asked what kind of chest pains Malema was referring to, he responded “racist chest aches.”
Oppenheimer, on the other hand, remained adamant that the EFF had no prospect of having its leader elected as South Africa’s president without major electoral support.
Malema, on the other hand, was unconvinced and repeated his belief that AfriForum was a racist organization.
“The party you represent has no percentage you can talk about since it will never even try,” remarked the EFF leader in response. A bigoted party, such as the one you represent, will be rejected by our people.”
During last year’s local government elections, he claimed, the EFF was able to drop the ruling ANC’s national support below 50%.
“You may think ten percent is a small number, but it’s a massive percentage, and we are the only party in South Africa that is growing among the three parties; we have never lost an election.”
During the heated debate, Judge Edwin Molahlehi interjected and asked Oppenheimer what the relevance of his inquiry was in the hate speech case, to which he admitted the subject was irrelevant.
“I’m not sure how relevant the topic of whether or not this party will win the elections is, and it appears that it will detain us for some time… “And we’re going to travel in circles,” Molahlehi predicted.
“Then I won’t press the point, my lord,” Oppenheimer responded.
After charging the EFF and its leaders of hate speech over the singing of the battle hymn Dubul’ibhunu, AfriForum filed a civil complaint against them in 2020.
The group believes the song promotes animosity based on race and ethnicity, and that it is an incitement to violence.
The Equality Court should force the EFF and its officials to publicly apologize and pay R500,000 in damages for performing the song, according to the lobby organization.
