EFF welcomes court ruling against Kenny Kunene
The EFF is celebrating the Gauteng High Court’s decision to find Kenny Kunene guilty of hate speech after he called Julius Malema a ‘cockroach.’
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) have welcomed the Gauteng High Court’s ruling that found controversial politician Kenny Kunene guilty of hate speech.
Kunene, the suspended deputy president of the Patriotic Alliance (PA), sparked outrage in 2021 when he referred to EFF leader Julius Malema as a cockroach during a television interview.
The court has ordered Kunene to publicly apologise, barred him from using the derogatory term against Malema again, and directed him to cover the legal costs.
EFF SLAMS PA LEADERSHIP
In a statement, the party also criticised both Kunene and PA leader Gayton McKenzie.
“The EFF has always maintained that Kunene, alongside his political leader, represents the failure of the Correctional Services system in South Africa to rehabilitate convicts,” the statement read.
The Red Berets further accused the PA of perpetuating hateful rhetoric rooted in historical instances of genocide.
POLITICAL PARTY CELEBRATES VICTORY
The EFF celebrated the ruling, saying it reaffirms Malema’s right to human dignity. The party added that it sets a precedent to prevent “vulgar individuals” from bringing attitudes and behaviours “learnt in prison” into politics.
“We will continue to ensure that the political arena is not tainted by foul-mouthed associates of syndicates, and we encourage the Department of Justice and Correctional Services to improve its rehabilitation programmes to prevent the emergence of such individuals in the future,” the statement concluded.
The judgment follows revelations that Kunene was found at Katiso “KT” Molefe’s home when police arrested him in connection with the 2022 murder of Oupa John Sefoka, popularly known as DJ Sumbody.