Everson Luhanga
ActionSA has announced its intention to fight Parliament’s acquittal of Julius Malema’s remarks on immigration.
In January 2021, Malema told foreign nationals to “find creative ways” to enter South Africa during a televised press conference held on 14 January 2021.
In a statement released on Tuesday, ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba said the party’s legal team will pursue a high court review of the decision to exonerate Malema for encouraging illegal immigration.
The National Assembly’s Joint Committee on Ethics and Members Interests acquitted Malema because his remarks were “open to a different interpretation”.
In a statement, Mashaba said that “after receiving the decision of the committee, more than a year after the complaint was lodged, ActionSA believes that the finding that Malema’s remarks were ‘open to different interpretations’ lacks any rational basis.”
Mashaba said the decision to pursue a legal review of this matter is grounded in the belief that members of parliament swear oaths of office to uphold the law.
“We cannot accept any member of parliament who abuses their position to advocate for lawlessness in our country.
“The fact that a committee of the National Assembly finds these remarks open to interpretation is laughable,” he said.
He said this road to review the decision of the committee will take time, “but ActionSA is patient in the need to ensure that we can deliver a lesson to members of parliament to take illegal immigration seriously.
“Our first step will be to obtain the legal representations made by Mr Malema and the minutes of the deliberations of the committee.
“If the national assembly of our country will not act, ActionSA will do so without hesitation.”
