ANC's Julius Malema Guilty Of South Africa Hate Speech

A South African judge has convicted ANC official Julius Malema of hate speech for his comments about the woman who accused President Jacob Zuma of rape. The Equality Court judge ordered Mr Malema to make an unconditional apology and pay 50,000 rand ($6,700; �4,500) to a centre for abused women. The ANC Youth League leader had said the woman must have had a "nice time". Mr Zuma was acquitted of rape. Mr Malema, a close ally of Mr Zuma, is a highly controversial figure. He is known for using colourful insults against anyone who crosses him. He recently said he was the victim of a smear campaign after he was accused of living a lavish lifestyle while posing as a champion of the poor. Referring to the woman who accused Mr Zuma of rape in 2006, he said: "When a woman didn't enjoy it, she leaves early in the morning. "Those who had a nice time will wait until the sun comes out, request breakfast and ask for taxi money." The Sonke Gender Group said this statement was insensitive to those who had been victims of rape and would perpetrate rape myths. Magistrate Colleen Collis said she had no doubt that the words constituted hate speech and urged Mr Malema to be careful about his utterances in future. "Mr Malema, being a man of vast political influence, be wary of turning into a man that often speaks but never talks." Mr Malema also caused outrage last week when he sung an apartheid-era protest song in front of students in Johannesburg which features the lines: "Kill the Boer, kill the farmer." His critics have suggested he should be charged with hate speech over the song. But ANC officials have rallied behind Mr Malema, saying the song is symbolic of the anti-apartheid struggle.