Tag: Hate Speech Bill

Hate Speech Bill discussion postponed after revelation that Department of Justice failed to consider all public submissions

Public submissions not duly considered on Hate Speech Bill ChristianView Network welcomes the postponement of discussions on the dangerously worded Hate Speech bill, which could put innocent people in jail for controversial statements, after it was found that key submissions had not been considered. It is rare for the ACDP, […]

Parliament reopens ‘Hate Speech Bill’ for comment

Parliament has re-opened the Prevention and Combating of Hate Crimes and Hate Speech Bill for public comment until Friday October 1. The decision to reopen the bill follows on from the Constitutional Court’s recent decision and definition of hate speech (in the Qwelane matter). The bill – for the first time in SA’s history – criminalises certain […]

‘Hate Speech Bill in danger of being rushed through’

On Tuesday August 28 the latest version of the controversial Hate Crimes and Hate Speech Bill was published for public comment (https://pmg.org.za/call-for-comment/727/), reports Freedom of Religion South Africa (FOR SA). The original draft of the Bill received over 70 000 submissions, with many labelling it “draconian” (https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/2018-03-13-draconian-hate-crimes-bill-will-destroy-freedom-of-speech/) and a “threat […]

Religious exemption clause in Hate Speech bill ‘will only protect sermons’

At Parliament on May 30 2018, Freedom of Religion South Africa (FOR SA) attended a briefing by the Department of Justice (DoJ) to the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Justice regarding the proposed Prevention and Combating of Hate Crimes and Hate Speech Bill (“the Bill”). This briefing followed certain amendments made […]

Bougardt judgment indicates likely legal limit of religious speech

Pastor gets prison sentence for offensive remarks towards gays On Friday, 18 May 2018 Pastor Oscar Bougardt – who found himself in trouble with the law again after making certain “highly insulting, demeaning and uncharitable” statements regarding the LGBT community – was convicted of contempt of court and sentenced to […]

Lack of transparency on ‘Hate Speech Bill’ a concern, says For SA

  The surprise tabling of the contentious ‘Hate Speech Bill’ in parliament this week raises serious religious freedom concerns writes Advocate Nadene Badenhorst of Freedom of Religion SA (FOR SA) in this special report. It has come to our attention that the controversial draft Prevention and Combating of Hate Crimes […]