Equality Court

/ 24 April 2024

‘The term coolie isn’t hate speech’

The EFF member has been ordered by the court to apologise to the Indian community for his comment

This content is restricted to subscribers only.

Join the M&G Community

Our commitment at the Mail & Guardian is to ensure every reader enjoys the finest experience. Join the M&G community and support us in delivering in-depth news to you consistently.

Subscription enables:

– M&G community membership
– independent journalism
– access to all premium articles & features
– a digital version of the weekly newspaper
– invites to subscriber-only events
– the opportunity to test new online features first

Already a subscriber?
Login here.

By Lyse Comins

National

/ 14 January 2024

Guide dog association to sue Uber over ‘discrimination’

The ride service will face a case in the equality court over allegations that its drivers discriminate against people with disabilities

By Umamah Bakharia

Politics

/ 13 July 2023

Questions over NFP MP Shaik Emam’s role in ‘coloured’ discrimination claim

Organisers say the R20 collected from each participant will go towards the costs of the R4.5m per person claim

This content is restricted to subscribers only.

Join the M&G Community

Our commitment at the Mail & Guardian is to ensure every reader enjoys the finest experience. Join the M&G community and support us in delivering in-depth news to you consistently.

Subscription enables:

– M&G community membership
– independent journalism
– access to all premium articles & features
– a digital version of the weekly newspaper
– invites to subscriber-only events
– the opportunity to test new online features first

Already a subscriber?
Login here.

By Paddy Harper

Thought Leader

/ 27 May 2023

When criminalising speech, we need to toe the constitutional line

When it comes to the application of hate speech laws, some seem to more equal than others

By Mark Oppenheimer

National

/ 11 November 2022

Dispute between EFF and Human Rights Commission heading for equality court

The commission says recent comments by Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema and party banners constituted incitement of violence and hate speech

By Eunice Masson

National

/ 25 August 2022

Malema, Economic Freedom Fighters singing ‘Kill the Boer’ ruled not hate speech

AfriForum has indicated that it will appeal the judgment made by the equality court

By Eunice Masson

Opinion

/ 5 March 2022

Iqbal Survé plays victim card again, this time at Competition Commission and equality court

Absa, FNB, Nedbank, Mercantile, Sasfin, Investec, Bidvest and Access Bank have cut ties with his companies and Standard Bank has the Sekunjalo Group on review.

By Ed Herbst

National

/ 7 February 2022

Afriforum at equality court: ‘Kill the Boer’ song encourages farm attacks

Lobby group’s Ernst Roets tells court he can’t “think of a mainstream politician, even from the ruling party, who has spoken against farm murders”

By Anathi Madubela

Opinion

/ 17 January 2022

South Africa is home to a culture of transphobia

Two M&G articles defending trans-exclusionary views draw on the insidious anti-trans rhetoric flourishing in the UK, but ignore our country’s constitutional protections

By Cassandra Roxburgh

Coronavirus

/ 29 May 2020

South Africa excludes refugees and asylum seekers from Covid-19 aid

Despite being protected in South Africa by law, these groups have been swept aside when it comes to relief packages

By Callixte Kavuro

Article

/ 21 November 2019

Chinese South Africans fight hate speech

Despite having come to the country 300 years ago, hateful comments were made online

By Mellisa Fan

Article

/ 10 September 2019

Should we really celebrate the equality court ruling on the apartheid flag?

The recent ruling that displaying the old South African flag is hate speech has been welcomed in many circles. But it could have gone a lot further

By Bonginkosi Khanyile

Article

/ 4 September 2019

N. Mandela Foundation: AfriForum should be held in contempt over apartheid flag tweet

Court should hold AfriForum in contempt over apartheid flag tweet, Nelson Mandela Foundation says

By Franny Rabkin

Article

/ 22 August 2019

Equality court: Flying old SA flag is hate speech

In a precedent-setting judgment, the judge found that hate speech extends beyond using offensive words to gestures

By Franny Rabkin

Article

/ 12 June 2019

‘Land or Death’: BLF fails to defend slogan

Mcebo Dlamini suggests the equality court took the slogan too literally, but the BLF itself has not provided any ideological justification for it

By Buhle Kunene

Article

/ 29 April 2019

Equality Court asked to declare old SA flag as hate speech

Counsel said displaying the flag sent a degrading humiliating message to black South Africans

By Franny Rabkin

Article

/ 28 March 2019

Equality court sets new policing precedent

Court finds allocation of police resources in the Western Cape unfairly discriminated against black and poor people on the basis of race and poverty

By Musawenkosi Cabe

Article

/ 6 September 2018

Ashwin Willemse won’t be back on SuperSport

It has been over three months since Willemse stunned South Africa on May 19 by walking off a live set during a Super Rugby broadcast

By Staff Reporter

Article

/ 4 July 2018

Judgment reserved in Velaphi Khumalo racial slur case

Judge Roland Sutherland heard arguments from the parties and said he would assess the evidence before giving judgment

By Staff Reporter

Article

/ 3 July 2018

Facebook Hitler commenter accepts comments were ‘grossly inappropriate’

Twenty-nine-year-old Velaphi Khumalo made the comments in a Facebook post in January 2016

By Kiri Rupiah

Article

/ 24 May 2018

Transgender rights: Vital case heads to Equality Court

The Equality Court in Cape Town will soon hear a groundbreaking case on the rights of transgender prisoners

By Staff Reporter

Article

/ 22 May 2018

Edward Zuma to apologise for Gordhan, Hanekom ‘sell-out’ comments

Edward Zuma has agreed to apologise for his "sell out" hate speech remarks directed at ministers Pravin Gordhan and Derek Hanekom last year

By Tania Broughton

Article

/ 3 April 2018

A rant on Facebook will see one man in the Equality Court

Vicki Momberg’s case has set a precedent for crimen injuria which may mean a racist rant on Facebook could lead to similar penalties

By Staff Reporter

Article

/ 11 October 2017

Trucking company accused of racial wage rigging

African drivers are allegedly being paid less than their white and coloured counterparts

By Athandiwe Saba

Article

/ 21 March 2017

Victory for queer kids in Limpopo equality court ruling

Parents and teachers need to understand LGBTQI+ children who need a ‘safe place’.

By Carl Collison

Article

/ 13 September 2016

Dianne Kohler Barnard absent as lawyers arrive in court for hate speech case

Kohler Barnard was demoted from shadow police minister to deputy shadow minister of public works after sharing a Facebook post praising PW Botha.

By Jenna Etheridge

Article

/ 17 June 2016

Equality Court judgment served on Sparrow’s daughter

In terms of the court order, Penny Sparrow has 60 days within which to pay the sum of R150 000, calculated from the day of service.

By Staff Reporter

Article

/ 4 January 2016

Penny Sparrow: Can racism be outlawed in South Africa?

The notorious estate agent may well face sanctions by SA’s judicial system if a case of hate speech brought against her finds its way to the courts.

By Pontsho Pilane

No image available

Article

/ 24 January 2012

Shivambu has ‘no recollection’ of ‘white bitch’ message

Suspended ANC Youth League spokesperson Floyd Shivambu says he doesn’t remember calling journalist Carien Du Plessis a "white bitch" in a message.

By Miranda Andrew

Article

/ 1 September 2011

Qwelane wins the battle but not the war

Jon Qwelane has won his case to have the hate speech verdict against him for a column set aside, but this does not mean he is off the hook.

By Katharine Child

Article

/ 9 August 2011

Malema finally pays fine for rape claim remark

ANC Youth League leader Julius Malema on Monday paid a R50 000 fine for his "nice time" remark about a woman who claimed she had been raped.

By Staff Reporter

Analysis

/ 20 April 2011

Malema’s day in court

Julius Malema has finally taken the stand in the hate speech case brought against him by AfriForum, leaving South Africans glued to their TV screens.

By Faranaaz Parker

Older posts

‘The term coolie isn’t hate speech’

Join the M&G Community

Guide dog association to sue Uber over ‘discrimination’

Questions over NFP MP Shaik Emam’s role in ‘coloured’ discrimination claim

Join the M&G Community

When criminalising speech, we need to toe the constitutional line

Dispute between EFF and Human Rights Commission heading for equality court

Malema, Economic Freedom Fighters singing ‘Kill the Boer’ ruled not hate speech

Iqbal Survé plays victim card again, this time at Competition Commission and equality court

Afriforum at equality court: ‘Kill the Boer’ song encourages farm attacks

South Africa is home to a culture of transphobia

Chinese South Africans fight hate speech

Should we really celebrate the equality court ruling on the apartheid flag?

N. Mandela Foundation: AfriForum should be held in contempt over apartheid flag tweet

Equality court: Flying old SA flag is hate speech

‘Land or Death’: BLF fails to defend slogan

Equality Court asked to declare old SA flag as hate speech

Ashwin Willemse won’t be back on SuperSport

Judgment reserved in Velaphi Khumalo racial slur case

Facebook Hitler commenter accepts comments were ‘grossly inappropriate’

Transgender rights: Vital case heads to Equality Court

Edward Zuma to apologise for Gordhan, Hanekom ‘sell-out’ comments

A rant on Facebook will see one man in the Equality Court

Trucking company accused of racial wage rigging

Victory for queer kids in Limpopo equality court ruling

Dianne Kohler Barnard absent as lawyers arrive in court for hate speech case

Equality Court judgment served on Sparrow’s daughter

Penny Sparrow: Can racism be outlawed in South Africa?

Shivambu has ‘no recollection’ of ‘white bitch’ message

Qwelane wins the battle but not the war

Malema finally pays fine for rape claim remark

Malema’s day in court

MAIL & GUARDIAN

ABOUT

SUBSCRIPTIONS

FOLLOW

FLAGSHIP EVENTS

LEGAL & CORRECTIONS

RESOURCES