AfriForum dismisses Malema's claim of racially targeting him

Lobby group AfriForum has dismissed Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema’s claims that it is targeting him on racial grounds.

The organisation’s charges resulted in Malema receiving a five-year prison sentence after he was found guilty of violating firearm laws.

This relates to an incident in 2018, when he discharged a firearm at an EFF rally in front of more than 20,000 supporters.

Despite the sentence, Malema will remain a free man while he pursues an appeal at the Eastern Cape High Court.

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Malema claims that AfriForum and the magistrate in his firearm discharge case, Twanet Olivier, acted in a racist manner towards him.

“Magistrate Olivier is a racist of note, and she must know that in her sleep. She is possibly a member of AfriForum. That’s why when we mention AfriForum, she can’t even hide it on her face.”

However, AfriForum’s spokesperson on community safety, Jacques Broodryk, said the racism claims are baseless.

“If that’s the case, then they need to explain to me how racism made Mr Malema fire that trigger and shoot those bullets into the air. That’s the one thing that no one seems to be able to explain to me.”

He said Malema’s sentence is a victory for the many people who could have been injured when Malema fired the rifle.