Court says Malema and EFF not allowed to occupy land

An interdict was granted in the Pretoria High Court today against Julius Malema, controversial leader of the EFF, and this party after AfriForum and AfriBusiness approached the court to prohibit Malema and the EFF to incite illegal land grabs.

The civil and business rights watchdogs submitted the application in November last year after Malema continued with his remarks and further threatened that the EFF would occupy land across the country on 6 April.

Tarien Cooks, Safety Coordinator for AfriForum, says the civil rights organisation placed the EFF on terms last year to halt the incitement of land grabs since it is a criminal offence. The EFF reacted to AfriForum’s letter and threatened that they will take land without any compensation and that the land will be redistributed.

“This remark is in direct violation of the Constitution as well as international law. It is a violation of the owners’ rights and therefore AfriForum together with AfriBusiness obtained the court interdict,” says Cooks.

“AfriBusiness views private land ownership as one of the cornerstones of a flourishing economy that is based on the free-market system. Any threat or undermining of private land ownership will deter local and international investors and lead to the flow of capital out of the country,” warns Armand Greyling, Law and Policy Analyst for AfriBusiness.

“Should Malema or a member of the EFF not adhere to this interdict, they will be charged with contempt of court,” Cooks concludes.

AfriForum is planning a blitz conference this month about what land owners’ rights are and what they stand to do when their land is grabbed.