EFF pays AfriForum thousands; averts auctioning of party’s assets

AFRIFORUM yesterday claimed that Julius Malema and the EFF made a payment of more than R100 000 last week towards two of the five cost orders the civil rights organisation had obtained against them.

The payment, amounting to R108 960 was the second following another totalling R126 703 paid on November 13 last year.

The latest payment brought the amount paid to some R235 000 of the cost orders estimated at R550 000 – the party still has to pay R315 000.

The EFF could not be reached for comment. AfriForum said that because of the two payments that it has already received from Malema and the EFF, it would not go ahead with selling at auction the EFF’s assets – which the Sheriff has already seized – before the legal processes of the three outstanding cost orders have been finalised.

Chief executive Kallie Kriel said AfriForum welcomed the further payment by Malema and the EFF.

“AfriForum will use Malema and the EFF’s payments in our court battles to fight attempts to change the country’s Constitution to allow for expropriation without compensation,” Kriel said. The two payments that Malema and the EFF made to AfriForum last Thursday and on November 13 were to settle cost orders issued on September 12, 2017, and February 18 last year.

Malema and the EFF are appealing against the interdict that AfriForum obtained against them on March 7, 2017, while the two cost orders of November 14 last year must still be taxed.

The five cost orders stem from the court case that AfriForum brought against Malema and the EFF last year for an interdict to prevent them from inciting people to occupy land illegally. The Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, found in AfriForum’s favour on March 7, 2017, and granted the interdict with costs.

Malema and the EFF brought an application to have the interdict set aside, which would have been heard on September 12, 2017.

However, the court had to postpone the case after Malema and the EFF submitted their heads of argument in their own case too late.

The judge consequently granted a punitive cost order against Malema and the EFF.

When the case resumed on February 18 last year, Malema and the EFF’s legal representatives failed to appear, and the case was settled in AfriForum’s favour and a further cost order issued against Malema and the EFF.

AfriForum said one of the paid orders related to a case of contempt of court brought by AfriForum after Malema and the EFF continued to encourage land grabs despite a standing interdict that AfriForum had obtained to prohibit them from inciting people to occupy land.

“Malema and the EFF’s legal team failed to submit their heads of argument in time, incurring yet another cost order against them.”