PRETORIA — AfriForum has approached the High Court in Pretoria to seek a contempt of court order against the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and its leader, Julius Malema.
The application follows recent statements by the EFF and Malema about the occupation of land. AfriForum argues that these statements may go against a court order issued in 2017.
What the 2017 court order says
The order prevents the EFF and Malema from encouraging or instructing people to enter land without permission from the owner or lawful occupant.
According to AfriForum, the order remains in force. The organisation says the EFF and Malema have since made several attempts to have it overturned.
However, those attempts were unsuccessful. In March 2023, the Constitutional Court dismissed an application relating to the order. A further case before the Supreme Court of Appeal was also unsuccessful in June 2023.
In addition, AfriForum says another attempt to challenge the order at the Constitutional Court was dismissed in September.
What AfriForum is asking for
In its latest application, AfriForum wants the court to find the EFF and Malema guilty of contempt of court.
The organisation is also asking for a R500,000 fine against the EFF. Furthermore, it is seeking an 18-month prison sentence for Malema, or another sanction that the court considers appropriate.
The High Court will now consider the application and the arguments from the parties involved.
For now, the allegations made by AfriForum have not been proven in court. The EFF and Malema will have an opportunity to respond to the application before the court makes its decision.
