JOHANNESBURG, A court in South Africa has cleared firebrand opposition politician Julius Malema of hate speech for calling Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan a dog of white monopoly capital.
Judge Roland Sutherland dismissed Gordhan's application and ordered him to pay the legal costs of Malema, the leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF).
Malema's comments were a juvenile rant and puerile self-aggrandizement, not a threat to the applicant or anyone else, the judge said in his judgement.
EFF secretary-general, Godrich Gardee, welcomed the judgement.
The court was actually correct because as the EFF we have a right and a privilege to freedom of speech as a political party, he said outside the court building in the main city, Johannesburg.
Malema had targeted Gordhan, a former finance minister, believing he was behind his troubles with authorities over tax irregularities.
Source: NAM News Network