Malema: We will never apologise
2009-07-10 14:48
Johannesburg - ANC Youth League president Julius Malema refuses to apologise for his comment about the woman who laid a rape charge again President Jacob Zuma, saying the hate speech case against him was driven by a white agenda.
"We will never apologise to some Mickey Mouses who want to put pressure on us," he said outside the Equality Court on Friday after the matter was postponed to August 31.
He said the charge was driven by people who did not want to see black faces in leadership.
The Sonke Gender Justice Network laid the complaint, charging that Malema's comment perpetuated myths about rape.
Malema said the organisation represented "the whites who are opposed to African leadership".
"They want to rid and embarrass the leadership of the movement."
To applause, he said: "We are in court because the whites who are sponsoring this organisation, they want to make sure they embarrass the leadership of this movement."
He called on all "progressive forces" to stop supporting the Network.
While he would accept the eventual court ruling, he would not apologise, he said. He contended that the media was only interested in the case because once African leadership is embarrassed "it is good news".
"An agenda must be exposed. This is a case of those who are refusing to accept the leadership of the ANC," he said.
In response to a question at an address at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology in January, Malema said: "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."
The Sonke Gender Justice network laid the complaint with the Equality Court and is demanding a public apology at a press conference, a retraction, a promise that he will not do it again, and a damages award of R30 000 to a shelter for abused women.
- SAPA