Human rights complaint for Malema
2010-04-09 19:26
Johannesburg - The Afrikanerbond intends lodging a complaint with the SA Human Rights Commission over the attack by ANC Youth League leader Julius Malema on a BBC journalist, it said on Friday.
In a letter unconditionally apologising to the BBC, the Afrikanerbond's Pieter Vorster said the complaint would be separate from two others already submitted against Malema's alleged hate speech.
Malema again made headlines on Thursday when he called BBC journalist Jonah Fisher, among other things, a "bastard" and an "agent".
This was after Fisher pointed out that Malema lived in Sandton as Malema chastised Zimbabwe's opposition party the MDC for operating out of the plush Johannesburg suburb and not back in Zimbabwe.
"Unfortunately millions of honest, decent, hard working and civilised South Africans bear the brunt of Mr Malema and the ANCYL's agenda, namely to polarise our different South African societies with renewed racism," Vorster said in the letter to BBC chairperson Sir Michael Lyons and BBC director general Mark Thompson.
"We trust that you will accept this unconditional apology," Vorster said.
'Unbecoming of a politician'
The Foreign Correspondent's Association said, Malema's attack was "abusive and unbecoming of a politician" in a democracy.
"The foreign media, including the BBC, played a major role in exposing the atrocities and inequalities of apartheid," the organisation said in a statement.
"That the media, including foreign broadcasters, were invited to this press conference... and then subjected to an attack is a worrying sign for democracy and the role of the free press in this country."
The organisation expressed "outrage" at the incident.
The Communication Workers' Union echoed the flurry of criticism levelled at Malema over the incident, saying it "cheapened" the name of the ANC.
The "immaturity and disrespect" shown by the ANCYL "affronts the precious memory of millions of our people".
- SAPA
