AfriForum has asked the High Court in Pretoria to hold EFF leader Julius Malema in contempt of court over recent comments encouraging the occupation of land in Stellenbosch.
The civil society organisation is seeking a R500,000 fine against Malema and the EFF, or an 18-month prison sentence for the party leader, or a comparable punishment.
AfriForum obtained an interdict against Malema and the EFF in 2017 prohibiting them from calling for the occupation of land without the permission of the owner or lawful occupant.
AfriForum Challenges Malema Over Stellenbosch Comments
AfriForum filed its contempt application on Friday, citing two instances in which it believes Malema breached the court order.
One of the incidents relates to comments Malema made on 23 July while speaking at the University of Limpopo’s Onkgopotse Tiro Hall.
Malema spoke about an impoverished area bordering a wine estate in Stellenbosch and said:
“When I go to Kayamnandi, I say to them, we must go and take that land, we must go and occupy that land.”
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AfriForum CEO Kallie Kriel said the comments showed that Malema and the EFF were disregarding the court order.
“This case is about the rule of law. AfriForum pursued this matter through the courts precisely because we believe that the rule of law applies to everyone,” Kriel said.
EFF Previously Challenged The Court Order
AfriForum’s application also refers to a social media post from April 2025.
Malema and the EFF previously challenged the 2017 court order before the Supreme Court of Appeal and Constitutional Court, but both attempts were dismissed.
The EFF has previously criticised the interdict and described the courts and AfriForum’s legal action in strongly worded terms.
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The party’s response to the latest contempt application was not immediately available.
AfriForum said it would continue using legal action to enforce what it considers the rule of law.
