Jail the racist

[MickeyD]

We will jail racists! This is the government's hardline approach to the racism storm that engulfed South Africa this week.

President Jacob Zuma yesterday also lashed out at racists, saying that they had no place in the country and were "living in the past".

During the week, several prominent South Africans were punished for perceived outbursts of racism on social media, with celebrity DJ Gareth Cliff being booted off the Idols South Africa judging panel and Standard Bank economist Chris Hart being suspended.

Deputy Minister of Justice John Jeffery said the government was already working to add hate speech and racist behaviour to the current bill on hate crimes, which will now be redrafted and released for public comment.

"The original intention was not to criminalise hate speech, which can already be dealt with as a civil matter in the Equality Courts ... but in light of the current developments we felt, as justice, we need to look at that.

"Obviously with a crime there are various forms of punishments ... fines, restorative justice ... [that] may be more appropriate, but those things will have to be looked at . . . but not excluding jail," said Jeffery.

This week, the ANC in parliament said it was considering the German example of criminalising the promotion of Nazism and Holocaust denial.

In Germany, section 130 of the Volksverhetzung (incitement of the people) legislation makes it a crime to incite hatred against a national, racial, religious or ethnic group, or make statements that "assault the human dignity" of such groups. Offenders may receive jail sentences of between three months and five years.

Zuma called for a national debate on race.

Speaking at the ANC's 104th birthday celebrations in Rustenburg yesterday, he said: "We have travelled a long way to finding each other as South Africans. The ANC calls on all people of this country to work together and defeat the demons of racialism and tribalism.

"It is clear that there is a tiny minority that still harbours a desire for separate amenities and who idolise apartheid-era leaders who made our country the skunk of the world. These people do not represent the true character of the new South Africa. They are living in the past."

Lawson Naidoo, executive secretary to the Council for the Advancement of the South African Constitution, said the free speech and expression guaranteed in section 16 of the constitution flowed from the founding provisions of human dignity, equality, human rights and freedom.

Naidoo called on South Africans to use existing avenues, including the Human Rights Commission and the Equality Court, to deal with culprits.

"Criminalising racism is the easy option. Passing a law will not fix the problem. In fact, it may well make justice slower and more expensive than through the Equality Court, which is less formal, easier to access, faster and cheaper - exactly because it is intended to provide speedier recourse to the vulnerable and the poor," said Naidoo.

He agreed that there was much in common with the German situation, but said a stronger deterrent was peer pressure and the ostracising of racists by society.

"It is a pity that it followed on such hurtful incidents, but the way in which South Africans have condemned and distanced themselves from offensive behaviour has been a strong positive in the past week," he said.

Full article here: http://www.timeslive.co.za/sundaytimes/stnews/2016/01/10/Jail-the-racist


NOTE: I recommend that you read the full article before responding.

 

[Xarog]

Called it.

 

[Glock26]

The funny thing is that all this outcry over people having opinions, and thought policing and over-reaction to normal opinions, is creating racists from people who before were not particularly bothered by the actions of other race groups.
I have seen many people who I would have called moderates or who were not bothered at all by people of other races, getting increasingly frustrated and irritated by Govt and this constant in your face "we are more equal than you"
And the simultaneous rise of radical "revolutionaries" and "entitled princesses" on social media embodied by many in the student movements, is doing nothing to assist racial harmony.
Yes..trouble is coming. And may just lead to serious problems if the govt does not back off from forced thought control.

 

[MickeyD]

I agree with the opinion expressed by Lawson Naidoo in the article.

We already have legislation and processes; use them.

 

[Xarog]

I agree with the opinion expressed by Lawson Naidoo in the article.

We already have legislation and processes; use them.

Making noises about the current system being insufficient lets the ANC campaign for re-election on the promise that they're going to change the laws to stop these evil things that everyone is being subjected to.

In other words, pay no attention to the crappy economy, the lack of jobs, the corruption, the general lack of effective policing and education etc., vote for the ANC because the ANC is going to take care of the real prime evil of racism.

 

[Zyzzyva]

This country is really going downhill fast. The only thing which could possibly improve things over the longer term would be a more sophisticated voting population but clearly that isn't going to happen anytime soon. If anything we are going backwards with populists coming into vogue promising much to the ignorant and relying on deep seated prejudices to further their private aims.

 

[ponder]

http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthr...e-comments?p=16862709&viewfull=1#post16862709

The problem is not with what he said, the problem is with the idiots making an issue where there was non. He did not say anything wrong. The wrong is in the 'outrage' & him being fired.

It won't be long before saying something like "mbeki caused the death of thousands with his aids policy" will get you labelled a racist & chucked in jail, we're already on that slippery slope.

And so it begins.

All those supporting #zumamustfall were labelled racist, pretty soon such people will be silenced & thrown in jail. This is a good law to silence your opposition, we've seen in work in other countries already.

 

[Fulcrum29]

I agree with the opinion expressed by Lawson Naidoo in the article.

We already have legislation and processes; use them.

Pretty much the same I had to say.

To quote,

Deputy Minister of Justice John Jeffery said the government was already working to add hate speech and racist behaviour to the current bill on hate crimes, which will now be redrafted and released for public comment.

As with the many examples made over the past two weeks, raises the question how to determine when it is hate speech or racist behaviour? In short how will it, hate crimes, be separated in the law on how the Human Rights Commission and the Equality Court proceed with such cases. Much will be debated...

In the end, as I always say, as long as punishment is equal. Then there is also the 'struggle' heritage opinion...

 

[Mila]

I agree with the opinion expressed by Lawson Naidoo in the article.

We already have legislation and processes; use them.

I'm with you.
We have some of the best laws in the world, just nobody that enforce it.

Start enforcing the law you already have.

 

[StevenC]

There is an incorrect word in the title. Racist is meant to be white.

If this amendment to the bill passes, I doubt we will see many blacks being subject to it. Because blacks cannot be racist, dontcha know?

The sooner I can get out of this country, the better. I think people need to start waking up, we are already on a path to persecution...

 

[Nicodeamus]

http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthr...e-comments?p=16862709&viewfull=1#post16862709



And so it begins.

All those supporting #zumamustfall were labelled racist, pretty soon such people will be silenced & thrown in jail. This is a good law to silence your opposition, we've seen in work in other countries already.

Not to mention that reprecautions that it is having in Germany, no one can criticism Islam without being associated with a Nazi. People tend to forget that the Weimar republic for example that numerous free speech laws and someone like Hitler just manipulated for his own good. SA currently lacks a great deal of free speech, especially with regards to the public broadcaster we dont need to step down on it even more.

 

[joeyhza]

Not to mention that reprecautions that it is having in Germany, no one can criticism Islam without being associated with a Nazi. People tend to forget that the Weimar republic for example that numerous free speech laws and someone like Hitler just manipulated for his own good. SA currently lacks a great deal of free speech, especially with regards to the public broadcaster we dont need to step down on it even more.

Really?

Nobody can question Islam without being associated with a Nazi? Do you live in an alternate reality and in this alternate reality are there different "reprecautions" that exist?

An saying "no one can criticism" is not English and only reinforces your ignorance

 

[theratman]

All Penny Sparrows fault. Eish.

 

[Xarog]

All Penny Sparrows fault. Eish.

If not her, they would have found someone else to start a controversy over. Do you really think they didn't go looking for someone to out as a racist?

 

[joeyhza]

All Penny Sparrows fault. Eish.

Pointless blaming the ill's prevalent in our society on one ignorant ****. She was merely a contribution to the catalyst.

 

[theratman]

If not her, they would have found someone else to start a controversy over. Do you really think they didn't go looking for someone to out as a racist?

Pointless blaming the ill's prevalent in our society on one ignorant ****. She was merely a contribution to the catalyst.

Jokes lads, I don't seriously believe that

 

[w1z4rd]

If not her, they would have found someone else to start a controversy over. Do you really think they didn't go looking for someone to out as a racist?

You are spot on about this. The ANC is spending billions on manufacturing perception this election cycle. This is going to happen a lot more. Every day people say stupid racist things on social media. Now all of a sudden they have a problem with this? As elections start?

 

[joeyhza]

If not her, they would have found someone else to start a controversy over. Do you really think they didn't go looking for someone to out as a racist?

Do you really hold this belief? Then, by deduction we can assume all the rest that's 'coming out' so to speak is just an effort by the ruling government to cause destabilization? Yeah, makes sense.

Postulating conspiracy theories is going to certainly help matters. We should all do it.

 

[ellyally]

All Penny Sparrows fault. Eish.

Yes and no, if it wasn't her, it would have been someone else... IMO This has been on the cards for a very long time. The #zumamustfall has just sped up the process as ANC realised the **** they're in come election day. Racist and hate comments from all races fly around over social media day in and day out since launch day, all pretty much ignored by most and tossed into the '****ing idiot' ignore box... This is different though. ANC probably employed a team to sit on social media, find and spread **** to kick up a stick with media. I do see this whole 'mess' being a well thought out and crafted plan to divide and conquer. Last thing anyone wants in the current regime is white and black working together for a better future for themselves as they have been, and which the #jzmustfall march showed them we are united(again, labeled all as racists). /tinfoil hat off

 

[Xarog]

Do you really hold this belief? Then, by deduction we can assume all the rest that's 'coming out' so to speak is just an effort by the ruling government to cause destabilization? Yeah, makes sense.

Postulating conspiracy theories is going to certainly help matters. We should all do it.

Oh right, so in the same week that the ANC has it's huge birthday bash and which sets off their election campaign for the 2016 elections, somehow the media just happens to be alerted to a social media crapstorm involving the very same kind of thing the ANC plans to use to justify their election campaign. Totes a coindecence. Promise.