ANC threatens preachers in hate speech debate

ANC leaders Henrietta Maseko-Jele and Deputy Minister of Justice John Jeffrey threatened to use the Hate Speech Bill to silence preachers’ controversial speech in Tuesday’s hate speech debate in Parliament.

This provides evidence of the ill intent of the bill, which we have received legal advice will prove useful in a court challenge against the bill.

Hendrietta Maseko Jele said that “We are also making sure that the preachers must stay on the line. When you preach, preach the Gospel. Stop talking things that will be very insulting to people.”

Jele’s argument is muddled because she implies it is possible to preach the Gospel without offending “woke” beliefs. That is false. The Bible’s teaching contradicts woke beliefs on many things, especially sexuality. You can email her at: Nmasekojele@gmail.com

John Jeffrey said: “Others appear to be concerned that they or their members or supporters may be prosecuted for racist or homophobic utterances. Certain religious institutions say the most horrific things about LGBTI persons, and then hide behind their religious convictions.

And I don’t understand homophobia from some religious denominations. For me God is about love, so why do they want to say nasty things about those who are born a particular way?”

My response to Jeffrey’s question is, firstly, he construes disagreement as “homophobia” as is if it was an irrational “phobia”. No. Christians oppose sex outside marriage and don’t recognise so-called “same-sex marriage”.

Secondly, it is not “certain religious institutions”, but almost all that do so. Those claiming to be Christian that don’t are fake.

Thirdly, yes God is about love, but God is also holy and just. It is not loving to fail to warn people of their danger of eternal fire.

Fourthly, he assumes homosexuals are “born that way”. There is no evidence for this. It is a false claim. Jeffrey has a false “woke” interpretation of religion and is now abusing his political power to try to persecute those who stand for truth. He is even promoting these false ideas on the Department of Justice website, claiming that God made them that way.

Hate speech laws have frequently been used in other countries to persecute religious freedom of speech. John Jeffrey, in his speech also dismissed concerns with “..what planet are you on?”

Our response is that we are not on planet “woke”. Instead of dismissing us, why not public debate us on radio or talk on the phone? You can email him at: DeputyMinister@justice.gov.za

The ANC, Good, EFF, NFP, PAC voted in favour of the bill. The IFP supported the bill but asked for better religious freedom protection. The DA, ACDP, FF+, and Al Jamah opposed it. The voting system required party whips to declare their number of members and then for the chair to ask if anyone dissents from their party. This is a highly fraught system in which it is hardly likely for anyone to vote against their party. Apparently it has been in place since Parliament burnt down.

The ANC had four speakers, the first two seemingly reading a vague emotional script which was not in their own words. Jele and Jeffrey made statements indicating intent to use the proposed law against pastors and religious organisations opposing the LGBT agenda. It is time for the Church to wake up and mobilise.

“Together with a raft of other similar legislation and policy the government is trying to push through this year, South Africa could soon be in a situation of repression like Russia, China, Zimbabwe. Firstly, the title of the bill deceptively claims to be combatting hate speech, but the actual wording means it is likely to be used to silence opposition, religious and political free speech.

Secondly, while it includes an exemption clause claiming to protect academic, media and religious free speech, this contains a loophole which makes this protection just smoke and mirrors. If not stopped or corrected, this bill will send innocent people to jail for up to eight years. The exemption clause 4(2) does not apply to “incitement to cause harm”. That would be reasonable if “harm” meant “physical harm”. Nobody wants to protect people who incite violence under the guise of religious or media freedom.

But it doesn’t mean “physical harm” and the ruling party has refused to change it to say “physical harm”. In fact “harm” is defined to include psychological, social and economic harm. That means for example calling for a boycott could be criminally prosecuted as “economic harm”.

Activist lobby groups could threaten or prosecute those who disagree with them for causing “social harm”, something which the Department of Justice has failed to properly define. A pastor motivating people for example against same-sex marriage or transgenderism could be accused of causing psychological or social harm.

The law could easily be abused to put those who make controversial statements in jail. Nobody can predict exactly how it will be interpreted by the courts because we have never had a law like this before. It is much more dangerous than the Equality Act, because it is criminal law that can put people in jail. In parliamentary discussions Jeffrey indicated intent to criminally prosecute people like journalist Jon Qwelane, who spoke out against same-sex marriage. That puts all journalists at risk if they express “politically incorrect” opinions and is likely to chill free speech.

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