Johannesburg - AfriForum received plea documents from ANC Youth League president Julius Malema on Monday afternoon defending his right to singing the "shoot the boer" song, the organisation said on Monday.
"We received the document setting out Malema's defence just before the close of business today [Monday]", said AfriForum lawyer Willie Spies.
"Malema's approach in this case is that he has a right to sing the song because it is part of his heritage." Earlier on Monday AfriForum said it was ready to fight against Malema's singing of an "inciting" struggle slogan, in the Constitutional Court and even at international forums.
Spies said AfriForum would start preparing for the case which would start on April 11. The civil rights group's statement comes after Malema commented on Sunday at a press conference in Boksburg that he was prepared to go to the Constitutional Court to defend singing the struggle song with the words "dubul' ibhunu", which, according to AfriForum's court papers, means "shoot the boer". Malema's comments came in response to a question about AfriForum's court case against him, in an effort to stop him singing the song.
AfriForum chief executive officer, Kallie Kriel, said his organisation regarded this case as being of such high importance that no costs would be spared to call Malema to order. He said it was irresponsible of Malema to continue defending slogans like "shoot the boer" given the levels of violent crime and murder in South Africa.
"While Malema is contending that his inflaming statements should not be interpreted literally, people are currently literally being murdered," Kriel said.
He said the organisation would continue its "stop Malema campaign" to mobilise as many people as possible against the youth leader's divisive statements.
http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/Politics/AfriForum-receives-Malema-documents-20110124
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