Malema’s statements make right-wingers a target

The Solidarity Legal Network strongly condemned the statements of Julius Malema, in which he labeled Magistrate Twanet Olivier, among other things, a “racist of stature”. Malema also insulted Joel Cesar, the public prosecutor, and accused him of misconduct and lies and argued that a case of perjury should be opened against him.

Malema made the comments after being jailed for breaches of the Firearms Act.

The Solidarity Legal Network says that instead of respecting the judgment of the court, the EFF leader chose to openly undermine the integrity of the judiciary.

Dr. Llewelyn Curlewis, advisory board member of Solidarity’s Legal Network, believes Malema’s actions amount to “mob behavior and propaganda by a radical criminal”.

Riaan Visser, head of Solidarity’s Legal Network, also says South Africans live in a country where lawyers are already under pressure. Such statements are therefore extremely dangerous.

“There are good reasons why these kinds of attacks on lawyers cannot be allowed,” he says.

Visser says that South Africa has experienced a disturbing increase in violence against legal professionals in the past few years.

• The labor lawyer Chinette Gallichan was shot dead outside the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (KVBA) office in Johannesburg earlier this year.
• In September 2025, Bouwer van Niekerk, a lawyer and business rescue practitioner, was murdered in his office in Johannesburg after attackers posed as clients.
• Four years ago, lawyer Schalk Pienaar was murdered in Mokopane because of his involvement in a corruption case.
• The assassination of the liquidator Cloete Murray and his son.

Anton van der Bijl, deputy managing director of legal affairs at Solidarity, believes that the incidents also highlight why irresponsible statements towards legal professionals should not be tolerated under any circumstances.

“Against this background, it is irresponsible and dangerous to attack judges and magistrates personally. It puts a target on the backs of lawyers, especially those involved in high-profile cases,” says Van der Bijl.

Solidarity emphasizes that the independence and security of the judiciary is a cornerstone of the rule of law.

“Any attempt to undermine this must be firmly opposed,” says Visser.

Solidarity makes an urgent appeal to the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) and the authorities to prioritize the safety of lawyers and to nip this kind of inflammatory behavior in the bud and unequivocally disapprove.

“Disagreeing with a verdict does not give anyone, not even Malema, the right to resort to blatant ridiculousness against a magistrate, public prosecutor or any other legal professionals,” says Van der Bijl.