Malema tells DA to retract ‘vexatious’ allegations or face R1m lawsuit

Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema is reportedly taking the Democratic Alliance (DA) and its leader, John Steenhuisen, to the cleaners for allegations made against him last week.

The DA laid criminal charges against former President Jacob Zuma’s children, Duduzane Zuma and Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, and Malema last week following social media comments on the violent protests in KwaZulu-Natal last week.

Malema took to social media calling on EFF members to get ready to join the protests following the government’s deployment of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.

“War declared on civilians. No soldiers on our streets! Otherwise, we are joining. All fighters must be ready… they won’t kill us all. We need a political solution to a political problem, not soldiers.#NoToSoldiers,” said Malema.

However, in a letter seen by TimesLIVE, Malema’s lawyers maintain the EFF leader did not incite violence, but only expressed his disapproval of the government’s decision to deploy the South African National Defence Force (SANDF).

The EFF leader has threatened to sue the DA and leader Steenhuisen for R1 million should they not retract the allegations and publicly apologise within five days.

The allegations against Malema were labelled as “vexatious, misplaced, spurious and untrue and were made to exact political revenge on Malema and his reputation, and indirectly on the EFF”, the publication quotes the lawyers as saying.

Compiled by Vhahangwele Nemakonde