Ernst Roets

Ernst Alex Roets (born 5 September 1985) is a political activist, writer and filmmaker in South Africa. He is Deputy CEO of civil rights group AfriForum and the CEO of the film production company Forum Films.

Ernst Roets

Education

Roets grew up in the agricultural town of Tzaneen where he matriculated in 2003 from the Merensky High School. He obtained his LLB degree in 2009 from the University of Pretoria (UP). During his student years he served in various leadership structures, including the Student Representative Council (SRC) and the Senate, at this university.

During his student years Roets served as founding member and the first National Chairperson of Solidarity Youth. In 2008 Solidarity Youth changed its name and the organisation was converted to AfriForum Youth. In 2016, Roets obtained his LLM degree in Public Law with distinction from the UP. The title of his dissertation was ’n Peiling van die middele kragtens die Suid-Afrikaanse Grondwet, ter afdwinging van die basiese regte van minderheidsgemeenskappe.[1]

Career

Roets was arrested in 2010 after he attempted to install a billboard with the words “Welcome to Pretoria” next to the N1 highway. This action was in protest against the Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality’s use of the word “Tshwane” to refer to the capital during the 2010 Fifa Soccer World Cup.[2]

In 2011 Roets was appointed as Deputy CEO of AfriForum. He testified on behalf of AfriForum in 2011 in the case of AfriForum vs. Malema. On behalf of AfriForum he submitted a charge of hate speech against Julius Malema after Malema sang the song “Dubul' ibhunu” (Shoot the Boer) at various political gatherings.[3] The court found Malema guilty of hate speech.[4]

In May 2018, following criticism of Afriforum by a North-West University professor, Elmien du Plessis,[5] Roets posted a YouTube video where he quoted Victor Klemperer, stating that "if the tables were turned after the Holocaust he 'would have all the intellectuals strung up, and the professors three feet higher than the rest; they would be left hanging from the lamp posts for as long as was compatible with hygiene.'"[6] Following the video posting, du Plessis and her family received threats of violence.[7][8][9] A petition condemning the threats against academics was subsequently circulated.[10]

Personal life

He is the son of Sarel Arnoldus and Irma Mariette (Née Ernst) of Orania. Roets married Lelanie (Née de Kock) on 5 December 2009 and has four children.[11] He is also part of a heavy metal band called "Soms Wen Die Wolf".[12]

Films and publications

Tainted Heroes

Tainted Heroes is a South African documentary film that was produced by Forum Films under direction of Elrich Yssel, with Roets and Beatrice Pretorius as producers. The film is about the violent battle of the African National Congress (ANC) against apartheid in South Africa between 1976 and 1994.[13] The documentary is based on the book People’s War: New Light on the Struggle for South Africa[14] by Anthea Jeffery.

A spokesperson for the ANC said "This is nothing else but propaganda. “They should be doing a film about how many of them in AfriForum have collaborated with apartheid. They are nothing else but hardcore racists. They are a group like the Ku Klux Klan (American white supremacist group).”.[15]

References
  1. Roets, Ernst (2016). 'n Peiling van die middele kragtens die Suid-Afrikaanse Grondwet, ter afdwinging van die basiese regte van minderheidsgemeenskappe (Dissertation). University of Pretoria.
  2. "3 held for violating ad by-law". News24. 2010-07-09.
  3. "Afriforum takes Malema to Equality Court". News24. 11 March 2010.
  4. "Afri-Forum and Another v Malema and Others (20968/2010) [2011] ZAEQC 2; 2011 (6) SA 240 (EqC); [2011] 4 All SA 293 (EqC); 2011 (12) BCLR 1289 (EqC) (12 September 2011)". South Africa: Equality Court. 12 September 2011.
  5. Plessis, Elmien du. "AfriForum's own farm murder stats don't support their claims". News24. Retrieved 2020-06-29.
  6. Du Toit, Pieter (7 May 2018). "AfriForum Heavyweight Launches Attack On Academic Over Criticism About US Tour". Huffington Post.
  7. Du Toit, Pieter (8 May 2018). "Professor Threatened After AfriForum Criticism: 'Don't Get Too Comfortable, You're Next'". Huffington Post. Retrieved 2020-06-29.
  8. Khoza, Amanda (7 May 2018). "Varsity prof on AfriForum's 'angry' Roets: 'Threat of violence, hanging not acceptable'". News24. Retrieved 2020-06-29.
  9. "Academic Adam Habib hits out at 'disgusting' AfriForum leaders". News24. 10 May 2018. Retrieved 2020-06-29.
  10. "Petition Against AfriForum Over Threat To Academics". Huffington Post. 14 May 2018. Retrieved 2020-06-29.
  11. Retief, Deur Hanlie (2019-03-31). "Hanlie Retief gesels met Ernst Roets". Netwerk24. Retrieved 2020-03-29.
  12. "Soms Wen Die Wolf: 'Ons is ʼn bleeksiel-swaarmetaal-orkes'". Maroela Media. 2020-01-17. Retrieved 2020-03-29.
  13. "Tainted Heroes". taintedheroes.co.za. Retrieved 2018-09-25.
  14. Jonathan, Ball. "People's War: New Light on the Struggle for South Africa". SAIRR (South African Institute of Race Relations).
  15. "ANC scoffs at 'propaganda' film claims | IOL News". Retrieved 2018-09-25.
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