ANC challenging hate speech judgment
2011-09-13 21:13
Johannesburg - The ANC intends challenging the court ruling banning the singing of "dubhula ibhunu" (shoot the boer), spokesperson Keith Khoza said on Tuesday.
"We are challenging the decision. We are waiting for the lawyers to go through the judgment... and advise us on the best legal route to take," he said.
On Monday, Judge Colin Lamont ruled that ANC Youth League president Julius Malema's singing of the song constituted hate speech.
The singing of the words "awudubule ibhunu" (shoot the boer) and "dubula amabhunu baya rayipha" (shoot the boers, they rape) was outlawed.
Words were powerful weapons that could lead to disastrous actions, and even genocide, Lamont said in the South Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg, sitting as the Equality Court.
Civil rights body AfriForum brought the complaint against Malema, who sang the words at several events last year.
The ANC supported Malema in his court fight.
- SAPA
