Mediation Agreement in Malema hate speech case
1. TAU SA wants to express its satisfaction with the settlement agreement that has been reached between the ANC, Mr Malema, AfriForum and TAU SA, pertaining to the song "shoot the Boer", which matter was enrolled for hearing in the Supreme Court of Appeal on Thursday 1 November 2012.
2. TAU SA appreciates the fact that the ANC, in particular, has indicated that it is crucial to mutually recognise and respect the rights of all communities to celebrate and protect their cultural heritage and freedom, and that certain words in certain struggle songs may be experienced as hurtful by members of minority communities, and may no longer be applicable in South Africa today.
3. TAU SA points out that the agreement relates to other issues to be discussed in future between the parties, other than struggle songs.
4. TAU SA will now take all steps necessary to continue formal dialogue with the leaders of the ANC pertaining to better understanding of the cultural heritages and aspirations of minority groups, including Afrikaners. TAU SA will most definitely insist that such dialogue should continue at the highest level.
5. TAU SA also appreciates the fact that the ANC and Mr Malema committed to counselling and encouraging their respective leadership and supporters to act with restraint pertaining to any hurtful experiences that may be caused by the expression and use of struggle songs.
6. TAU SA will be monitoring closely the development in this regard ant the steps that the ANC and Mr Malema will take in this regard.
7. TAU SA emphasises the fact that there is wide recognition amongst farmers and Afrikaners in South Africa that violent crime, including farm attacks and murders, remain a huge problem in South Africa, and that such crimes are committed against the background of uncertainties caused by the continuation of the freedom struggle of the ANC and which is in particular pushed forward by the ANC Youth League, in furtherance of the National Democratic Revolution.
8. TAU SA will therefore engage the ANC in further discussions at the highest level possible on the issue of violent crimes, farm attacks and farm murders.
9. TAU SA records again that farm murders on white farmers remains a huge concern in South Africa , and that it is investigating the question whether it could be described as genocide in terms of the international law. 1372 white farmers have been killed since 1990 out of a total of 1591. 86% of all farm murders have been committed against white farmers. 85 farm attacks were executed during 2011 and 106 during 2012. The normal murder rate according to the current available statistics is 31 persons per 100 000.00 of South Africa 's population, whereas for white farmers it amounts to 96 per 100 000.00 citizens. Therefore white farmers have a three times higher risk of being murdered than any other citizen. The statistics of TAU SA are annexed hereto.
10. TAU SA is therefore appreciative of the fact that the ANC and Mr Malema have at long last agreed to engage with TAU SA on the issues furthering a climate of armed violence and violent crimes, and to address these issues not only in discussions with TAU SA, but also among their leaders and supporters.
11. The full mediation agreement can be downloaded from here - PDF.
Statement issued by Louis Meintjes, President TAU-SA, October 31 2012
Click here to sign up to receive our free daily headline email newsletter
