Cape Town – Patriotic Alliance (PA) deputy president Kenny Kunene has been ordered to issue a public apology by the Johannesburg High Court for his statements after he referred to the leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), Julius Malema, as a “frog” and an “irritating cockroach” in November 2021.
Patriotic Alliance (PA) Kenny Kunene has been found guilty of hate speech by the Equality Court after he referred to the EFF commander-in-chief as a “cockroach” and “a little frog” in November 2021.
The court ordered Kunene issue an unconditional public apology to J Malema. pic.twitter.com/mRrfXMTDQ6
— Biyela | Prince of Nkandla ?? (@VusBiyel) February 1, 2023
Kunene was ordered by the High Court to issue an unconditional public apology to Malema. The apology must also include a retraction of the statement.
The language used by Kunene to describe Malema was declared to constitute hate speech as defined by the Equality Act.
Kunene has also been ordered to make the “apology and retraction” within 30 days from the date of the court order.
Kunene called Malema “a little frog” and “an irritating cockroach” during an interview with eNCA in November last year.
I don’t know if extreme violence brewing or what! Kenny calling Malema a cockroach and you know how it pan out in Rwanda. Guns are out and it looks like someone will be dismembered. #COALITIONS #xenophobic
#Loadshedding #PolokwaneMassacre Thixo!!! ??? pic.twitter.com/bhja8XQCI2— ?️ neo MDA Jolinkomo (@neo_mda) November 17, 2021
After appearing in court in September last year, Kunene reportedly refused to withdraw the statements he made against Malema.
He took to Twitter at the time to share his court appearance and the support he received from his PA members who were with him in court.
We are at the Johannesburg High Court with Patriots @OnsBaizaNie #Harebaize #Asibaizi pic.twitter.com/AnDdF9GUDY
— Kenny Kunene (@Kenny_T_Kunene) September 12, 2022
Meanwhile, the EFF has welcomed the judgment by the Johannesburg High Court, calling it “correct” and “logical”.
The party said that “genocides and hate crimes against fellow human beings begin at the point of dehumanization”.
Read the EFF’s full statement here:
EFF Welcomes The Judgement By The Johannesburg High Court, Which Found That Kenny Kunene Committed Hate Speech By Referring To CIC @Julius_S_Malema As A “Cockroach” pic.twitter.com/uaywlcobde
— Economic Freedom Fighters (@EFFSouthAfrica) January 31, 2023
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Picture: Twitter/ @Kenny_T_Kunene
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Compiled by Junaid Benjamin
