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The leader of the EFF, Julius Malema.
Alet Pretorius, Gallo Images
- The district attorney will bring criminal charges against EFF leader Julius Malema for posts on social media that he believes incite violence.
- Malema’s tweet, with the image of a machine gun, came after protests against farm killings in Senekal last week.
- The DA has also asked the president to publicly condemn the EFF.
The district attorney has announced that he will file a criminal complaint against EFF leader Julius Malema and Deputy Nazier Paulsen for posting machine gun tweets following protests over farm killings in Senekal.
The chief prosecutor, Natasha Mazzone, deputy said the party would press charges on Monday in response to their “inflammatory statements”.
“On Wednesday, Malema tweeted, ‘Magwala a chechele morago! [Cowards move to the back]. The fighters attack! and as a follow-up, over the weekend he tweeted a photo of a machine gun, “Mazzone said.
Since the government of @CyrilRamaphosa is very afraid to respond decisively, we are alone. The next apparition, all peace-loving South African and ground forces will be present, in defense of our democracy and property. Magwala to chechele morago! The fighters attack! pic.twitter.com/HIddc4gOV3
– Julius Seal Malema (@Julius_S_Malema) October 7, 2020
The tweets came after protests by farmers in Senekal last week. This followed the murder of 21-year-old farm manager Brendin Horner.
The protesters reportedly set fire to a police vehicle and raided the court’s holding cells, where two men accused of murdering Horner are being held.
His body was found in an open field near the Free State town of Paul Roux early Friday morning. A rope around his neck was tied to a post.
Paulsen retweeted Malema’s post, followed by a photo with a machine gun titled “Get ready!” Mazzone said.
“These inflammatory statements are a serious crime, especially by members of Parliament who are bound by an oath of office. In what constitutional democracy in the world will elected public representatives be allowed to openly and publicly incite race war? that happens here. This type of rhetoric has no place in our country, “he added.
The district attorney is now asking Police Minister Bheki Cele and the President to take action against Malema.
READ ALSO | ‘The message of agricultural killings must reach the ends of the earth’ – AfriForum
“We also call on President Cyril Ramaphosa to publicly condemn the EFF and for Parliament to investigate and take the necessary action against them,” Mazzone said.
“It is time for Julius Malema and his gang of thugs to face responsibility for their actions and statements. It is time for the police minister and the president of the country to make their voices heard. The district attorney will not rest until this happens.”
He is expected to file the charges at the Cape Town police station on Monday.
The EFF was not available for comment at the time of publication. Your comment will be added once received.
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