ANC Youth League president Julius Malema failed to lodge an appeal against an Equality Court ruling against him and has not paid the court-ordered R50 000 fine, the Sonke Gender Justice Network said on Thursday.
Malema was found guilty of hate speech and harassment by the Equality Court in March over comments he made about President Jacob Zuma's rape accuser.
He was fined R50 000 to be paid to a women's rights organisation within a month and was compelled to apologise publicly within two weeks of the ruling. He lodged an appeal against the order but the time period in which the appeal had to be “prosecuted” lapsed on July 14, said the network.
“While under oath, Malema said he would abide by any ruling given by the Equality Court. As the time for appealing has passed, Malema now needs to make good on the ruling and his word,” said spokesperson Mbuyiselo Botha.
“A writ of execution” had been issued by the Sheriff for attachment of his property to get the R50 000 owed by Malema.
Sonke was prepared to take further action if he failed to apologise.
ANCYL spokesperson Floyd Shivambu said the matter was old and he was not prepared to comment on it.
“We are not concentrating on those issues now, we are concentrating on the nationalisation of the mines and issues of youth development,” he said.
“We are not going to give any comment with regard to that,” he said after further questioning. He then dropped the call.
The network took Malema to court after he said, with reference to Zuma's rape accuser, that “when a woman didn't enjoy it (sexual intercourse), she leaves early in the morning”.
“Those who had a nice time will wait until the sun comes out, request breakfast and taxi money. In the morning that lady requested breakfast and taxi money. You don't ask for taxi money from somebody who raped you,” Malema had said.
Zuma was acquitted of the rape charge. -
Sapa