Julius Malema Found Guilty of Hate Speech in South Africa
South African opposition leader Julius Malema has been found guilty of hate speech by the country’s Equality Court over remarks he made at a political rally in 2022. This marks the third such ruling against the outspoken leader of the left-wing Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party, known for his fiery rhetoric and controversial positions. The verdict comes at a time of strained international relations, with United States President Donald Trump recently accusing South Africa of discriminating against whites. Trump specifically cited Malema as the figurehead of what he called an “anti-white movement.” The diplomatic fallout escalated this year, with Washington cutting aid to Pretoria and imposing heavy tariffs in response to what it described as systemic discrimination. Malema and the EFF have yet to respond publicly to the court’s ruling.