News / Africa
If Julius sings revolutionary songs, it's a headline: Malema
20 Apr 2011 at 10:35hrs | Views
ANC Youth League president Julius Malema defended himself and the song "awudubhule ibhunu", or "shoot the boer", at his hate speech trial in the Equality Court on Wednesday.
Under cross-examination by AfriForum lawyer Martin Brassey, Malema said the song had been taken out of context, blamed the media for portraying him in a bad light, and accused the Afrikaner interest group of "cheap politicking".
He had been inspired by "revolutionary leaders" to sing the song, and the word "ibhunu" only referred to oppressors and nothing else.
"It's not Julius's song, I'm not Brenda Fassie," he testified.
"If Julius sings revolutionary songs, it's a headline, but when they sing 'Die Stem' it's not a headline. I want to sing with my people. I want to celebrate and commemorate without any restrictions."
He said there were "no special rules for Julius Malema" and that for him it would be unfortunate if he was stopped from singing "revolutionary songs".
"There's never been anything in my life that has not been political... even proposing to a girl," he said to laughter from the public gallery.
AfriForum took Malema to court, contending his singing the struggle song constitutes hate speech. Malema in turn accused the group of wanting the "limelight".
Malema said AfriForum was using "cheap politicking" and that the organisation "came here to boast".
"You (AfriForum) came here for cameras," he told Brassey.
Malema blamed the media for distorting what he said, and for "misleading AfriForum". The freedom of press, fought for in the struggle, was now being abused, he charged. There were elements in the media wanting to perpetuate apartheid, he claimed.
"Is it safe to say that there is a conspiracy by the media to perpetuate apartheid?" Brassey asked.
"I don't know if you would use the word conspiracy," Malema answered.
"It has become so difficult that we are unable to communicate within ourselves."
Malema earlier encouraged AfriForum, which he accused of "calling for his isolation", to join in the singing of the song. He denied being a racist, and said he belonged to an organisation that subscribed to non-racialism.
After recounting a number of political stories during his testimony - such as marching through "white suburbs with a 9mm pistol" after the assassination of SA Communist Party leader Chris Hani - Judge Collin Lamont warned Malema.
"You are not entitled to come and make a political speech," Lamont told him.
Immediately before his cross-examination, Malema told Brassey:
"You brought this political matter to court, I will answer in a political way."
In previous testimony, ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe told the court the ANC was not protecting Malema. Although Malema was ANC Youth League president, he was disciplined when needed.
"Everybody in the ANC gets disciplined... if you step out of line," Mantashe said in response to questions by Roelof du Plessis, lawyer for farmers' organisation Tau-SA.
Mantashe said Malema, through his controversial statements, was trying to help the ANC return to power in the Western Cape. Mantashe told the court "Malemaphobia" had hit many Afrikaner organisations.
He said he coined the term "Malemaphobia" after the ANC established an outreach programme for Afrikaners.
Through interaction with Afrikaners when visiting farms, Mantashe said he noted most of them had an "irritation by Malema".
Brassey said "Malemaphobia" may have resulted from Malema being a controversial figure, who embodied a particular set of ideas. He said Afrikaners had a keen sense of what it was to be oppressed and that AfriForum had no desire to burn songs or trample on history.
A big screen outside court allowed Malema's supporters to watch proceedings. As Malema took the stand for the first time just after tea on Wednesday, hundreds of people screamed his name.
Some people carried placards reading "A Thousand Hofmeyer's, New release, let's sing together, coming soon" and "I can change my hair, but not my history".
Proceedings, which had been set down for 10 days, would continue on Thursday.
Under cross-examination by AfriForum lawyer Martin Brassey, Malema said the song had been taken out of context, blamed the media for portraying him in a bad light, and accused the Afrikaner interest group of "cheap politicking".
He had been inspired by "revolutionary leaders" to sing the song, and the word "ibhunu" only referred to oppressors and nothing else.
"It's not Julius's song, I'm not Brenda Fassie," he testified.
"If Julius sings revolutionary songs, it's a headline, but when they sing 'Die Stem' it's not a headline. I want to sing with my people. I want to celebrate and commemorate without any restrictions."
He said there were "no special rules for Julius Malema" and that for him it would be unfortunate if he was stopped from singing "revolutionary songs".
"There's never been anything in my life that has not been political... even proposing to a girl," he said to laughter from the public gallery.
AfriForum took Malema to court, contending his singing the struggle song constitutes hate speech. Malema in turn accused the group of wanting the "limelight".
Malema said AfriForum was using "cheap politicking" and that the organisation "came here to boast".
"You (AfriForum) came here for cameras," he told Brassey.
Malema blamed the media for distorting what he said, and for "misleading AfriForum". The freedom of press, fought for in the struggle, was now being abused, he charged. There were elements in the media wanting to perpetuate apartheid, he claimed.
"Is it safe to say that there is a conspiracy by the media to perpetuate apartheid?" Brassey asked.
"I don't know if you would use the word conspiracy," Malema answered.
"It has become so difficult that we are unable to communicate within ourselves."
Malema earlier encouraged AfriForum, which he accused of "calling for his isolation", to join in the singing of the song. He denied being a racist, and said he belonged to an organisation that subscribed to non-racialism.
After recounting a number of political stories during his testimony - such as marching through "white suburbs with a 9mm pistol" after the assassination of SA Communist Party leader Chris Hani - Judge Collin Lamont warned Malema.
"You are not entitled to come and make a political speech," Lamont told him.
Immediately before his cross-examination, Malema told Brassey:
"You brought this political matter to court, I will answer in a political way."
In previous testimony, ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe told the court the ANC was not protecting Malema. Although Malema was ANC Youth League president, he was disciplined when needed.
"Everybody in the ANC gets disciplined... if you step out of line," Mantashe said in response to questions by Roelof du Plessis, lawyer for farmers' organisation Tau-SA.
Mantashe said Malema, through his controversial statements, was trying to help the ANC return to power in the Western Cape. Mantashe told the court "Malemaphobia" had hit many Afrikaner organisations.
He said he coined the term "Malemaphobia" after the ANC established an outreach programme for Afrikaners.
Through interaction with Afrikaners when visiting farms, Mantashe said he noted most of them had an "irritation by Malema".
Brassey said "Malemaphobia" may have resulted from Malema being a controversial figure, who embodied a particular set of ideas. He said Afrikaners had a keen sense of what it was to be oppressed and that AfriForum had no desire to burn songs or trample on history.
A big screen outside court allowed Malema's supporters to watch proceedings. As Malema took the stand for the first time just after tea on Wednesday, hundreds of people screamed his name.
Some people carried placards reading "A Thousand Hofmeyer's, New release, let's sing together, coming soon" and "I can change my hair, but not my history".
Proceedings, which had been set down for 10 days, would continue on Thursday.
Source - Sapa
