By: Natasha Archary
A 2021 remark that Patriotic Alliance Deputy President, Kenny Kunene made in reference about EFF leader Julius Malema, may cost the businessman R1 million.
This as Malema approaches the Equality Court, accusing Kunene of hate speech for calling him “an irritating cockroach” during a live television interview.
The remarks were made during the 2021 local government elections, in a discussion on party coalitions.
“Once I’m done, I’m then going to deal with this little frog. Julius is just an irritating cockroach, that I must now deal with publicly.”
Kenny Kunene is reportedly being sued for this 2021 remark about EFF leader Julius Malema
Malema’s attorney, Kameel Premhid, told the court on Monday, 12 September, that to refer to someone as a cockroach is offensive.
His argument is that the reference is linked to the dehumanizing language used to describe the Tutsi minority in the Rwanda genocide of 1994.
Leon Mugesera, a lecturer, sparked the genocide by inciting that Tutsis be killed because they were “cockroaches.”
However, Julius Malema previously called Helen Zille a cockroach, during a 2010 ANC Youth League address.
“If Zille had her way, she would declare the Western Cape an independent republic. You have put a cockroach in Cabinet and we need to remove that cockroach by voting the ANC into power.”
Malema himself has used the word cockroach to describe other politicians
Meanwhile, Kenny Kunene says he will not back down as he does not believe his remarks about Malema were hate speech.
Speaking outside court, Kunene said that Malema was behaving like an emotionally fragile boy, because he makes insulting remarks about others.
“I don’t believe I committed hate speech, within the confines of the law. My attorneys are here. We will defend the matter and we are confident.
If not, we will appeal. Julius has previously called Pravin Gordhan a dog. The court said that’s not hate speech.
Calling someone an irritating cockroach is not hate speech, because he IS an irritating cockroach. When I called him that, he first said the Patriotic Alliance was a party full of bandits. He is an emotionally fragile boy.”
Kenny Kunene reiterated that Julius Malema is an irritating cockroach
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