Mail & Guardian
Mail & Guardian

Jon Qwelane

latest news & developments
(Illustrator: Anastasya Eliseeva)
CONSTITUTION

Hate speech law to be more clearly defined

While the Constitutional Court has agreed that certain sections of the Equality Act are unconstitutional, it has decided the issue of whether Jon Qwelane was guilty of hate speech

  • Musawenkosi Cabe
5 min read
In a legal saga that began in 2008 with a column by Jon Qwelane and continued past his death, the Constitutional Court on Friday held that ensuring equality and protection of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT+) people was part of South Africa’s constitutional project
CONSTITUTIONAL COURT

ConCourt finds that protection of LGBT+ rights was intrinsic to the constitutional project

The court also found that the term hurtful should be excised from the Equality Act in that it did not meet the justification threshold in the Constitution and gave Parliament 24…

  • Emsie Ferreira
5 min read
Reasonable limits: Members of the public protest outside Media24 offices after the publication of John Qwelane’s homophobic column in the Sunday Sun in 2008. (Paul Botes/M&G)
CONSTITUTIONAL COURT

The Qwelane case: When human rights meet human rights

The Jon Qwelane case brings into focus the tension between hate speech and freedom of expression

  • Sarah Smit
4 min read
Not okay: Protests outside Media24’s offices
JON QWELANE

Qwelane hate speech ruling hailed as a victory by queer activists

The Johannesburg High Court today delivered a ruling declaring comments made in a 2009 column in Sunday Sun as hate speech.

  • Carl Collison
4 min read
In a legal saga that began in 2008 with a column by Jon Qwelane and continued past his death, the Constitutional Court on Friday held that ensuring equality and protection of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT+) people was part of South Africa’s constitutional project
HATE SPEECH

Editorial: No room for hate

Qwelane’s utterances are at last being examined legally to decide whether his insistence on his right to “free expression” has caused harm.

  • Editorial
1 min read
Not okay: Protests outside Media24’s offices
EQUALITY

And the word was … How a writer can promote hatred

South Africans share their stories of what it took for them to start overcoming homophobia.

  • Carl Collison
10 min read
The courts dealt with Penny Sparrow’s case swiftly. Jon Qwelane’s conduct over the past eight years shows he has refused to engage with the harm his words caused.
FREE SPEECH

​Civil redress better than policing hate

The best outcome of Jon Qwelane’s court case would be restoring the dignity of those he harmed.

  • Melanie Judge 1
6 min read
In a legal saga that began in 2008 with a column by Jon Qwelane and continued past his death, the Constitutional Court on Friday held that ensuring equality and protection of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT+) people was part of South Africa’s constitutional project
JON QWELANE

Dismay at indefinite postponement of Jon Qwelane hate speech case

The hate speech case against Jon Qwelane has reached a seeming stalemate once again.

  • News 24
4 min read
In a legal saga that began in 2008 with a column by Jon Qwelane and continued past his death, the Constitutional Court on Friday held that ensuring equality and protection of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT+) people was part of South Africa’s constitutional project
HATE SPEECH

Legal rep: Postponement of Jon Qwelane’s hate speech case is a ‘travesty of justice’

Qwelane’s poor health was cited as a reason for the deferral of the case.

  • Carl Collison
3 min read
Free State ANC chairperson Ace Magashule.
HOMOPHOBIA

For the love of hate speech

Six years later, former columnist Jon Qwelane still fights for right to call gay people names.

  • Phillip De Wet
6 min read
In a legal saga that began in 2008 with a column by Jon Qwelane and continued past his death, the Constitutional Court on Friday held that ensuring equality and protection of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT+) people was part of South Africa’s constitutional project
FREE SPEECH

Jon Qwelane is so proud of his hate

Melanie Judge asks if Jon Qwelane should be able to use the right to free speech to argue that others shouldn’t have rights.

  • Melanie Judge 1
4 min read
HOMOPHOBIA

Qwelane to launch constitutional challenge to hate speech ruling

SA ambassador to Uganda Jon Qwelane will challenge certain provisions of the Equality Act in the South Gauteng High Court in September.

  • Staff Reporter
3 min read
HATE SPEECH

Qwelane ruling set aside on technicality

Jon Qwelane has won his case to have the Equality Court’s hate-speech judgment against him set aside, but this does not mean he is off the hook.

  • Katharine Child
2 min read
Qwelane wins the battle but not the war
EQUALITY COURT

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.

  • Katharine Child
3 min read
HRC opposes Qwelane bid to quash hate speech ruling
HATE SPEECH

HRC opposes Qwelane bid to quash hate speech ruling

Papers opposing Jon Qwelane’s application to revoke the hate speech judgment against him have been lodged by the SA Human Rights Commission.

  • Staff Reporter
1 min read