Malema wants DA to retract and apologise for incitement allegations
EFF leader Julius Malema wants the DA to retract and apologise for allegations it made that he incited violence last week, and is threatening to sue the party and its leader, John Steenhuisen, for R1m.
Malema’s lawyers have written to the DA demanding Steenhuisen retract allegations Malema incited the violence.
They also want the party to publicly apologise and withdraw criminal charges laid against the firebrand leader within five days.
In a letter dated July 17, Ian Levitt Attorneys said Malema never supported any criminal act, including the looting, and that the DA singled out a tweet, omitting a series of other tweets which gave context to what Malema was saying.
“The tweet you have referred to does not incite violence.”
In response to reports on
Monday last week that the state was planning to deploy the army to quell looting and violence, Malema tweeted: “No soldiers on our streets! Otherwise, we are joining.
“All fighters must be ready. They won’t kill us all.”
His other tweets on the same day read: “Some of you are even calling for a state of emergency.
“Be careful what you’re asking for ... In honour of Collins Khosa and all citizens who were harassed during level 5, say ‘#NoToSoldiers’ and ‘war declared on civilians’.”
In their letter to the DA, Malema’s lawyers said he was entitled to oppose the deployment of the defence force.
“Our client is also legally entitled to call for the removal of the soldiers from their current deployment in exercise of his freedom of speech which is protected by the constitution.”
They reminded the DA of the killing of Alexandra resident Khosa, allegedly at the hands of soldiers, saying this was the context in which Malema referred to the killing of civilians by the defence force.
They claimed the DA had conveniently omitted other tweets sent by Malema on the same day.
They said his tweet about Khosa formed part of the general message ‘#NoToSoldiers’ ,a tag appearing in both tweets.
Malema’s lawyers also charged that media articles attributed to Steenhuisen about the matter were defamatory, especially where Steenhuisen is reported to have stated the EFF leader:
● incited the violence;
● voiced support for looters;
● failed to show leadership during the violence and looting;
● was fanning the flames of violence when the country started to see loss of life;
● or was highly irresponsible to behave as he did on social media and should be held accountable.
Approached for comment, Steenhuisen said he was in KwaZulu-Natal and had not received a letter. He maintained Malema’s tweets spoke for themselves “and we will allow the investigating authorities to determine the matter”.