/ 21 September 2009

Malema in hot water, again

A neighbour of ANC Youth League’s Julius Malema has alleged that he was assaulted during a housewarming party at the Sandton home of the youth leader on Saturday night.

The Star reported on Monday that the neighbour, who is also a police reservist, was allegedly slapped a number of times by Malema.

”Do you know who I am? Do you know what I can do? Who the fuck are you?” Malema allegedly told the reservist.

Malema denied the allegations, telling the paper that he did not know who the man was.

Equality Court appearance
Meanwhile, Malema is expected to be cross-examined in the Equality Court in Johannesburg on Monday on a hate speech charge.

The Sonke Gender Justice Network laid the complaint against Malema for saying in public that President Jacob Zuma’s rape accuser ”had a nice time”.

Last month, Magistrate Colleen Collis dismissed a complaint of unfair discrimination against Malema, but ruled that the charges of hate speech and harassment remain.

Malema has been adamant that he will not apologise for his comment made at the Cape Peninsula Technikon in January in the run-up to general elections, saying it had been taken out of context.

His comment was: ”Those who had a nice time will wait until the sun comes out, request breakfast and ask for taxi money. In the morning, that lady requested breakfast and taxi money.”

Malema was referring to a rape charge against Zuma, on which he was acquitted in 2006 before he became president.

The Sonke Gender Justice Network said the comment perpetuated rape myths and could affect the lobbying and workshops they conducted among boys and men to prevent sexual violence.

It wants a full apology and R50 000 in damages to be paid to a shelter for abused women. – Sapa