Johnathan Paoli
THE National Assembly this week endorsed technical amendments made to the Prevention and Combating of Hate Crimes and Hate Speech Bill by the National Council of Provinces (NCOP), including a reduction in the prison term for such crimes from eight to five years.
Under the Bill, “harm” warranting criminal sanction would include any “substantial emotional, psychological, physical, social or economic detriment that objectively and severely undermines the human dignity of the targeted individual.”
The DA’s Werner Horn said he doesn’t believe the bill could pass the constitutional muster, and said he was concerned over the implementation of the legislation, and that it could possibly stifle the freedoms of expression and speech.
“It does not contain a definition of hate as well as the nonsensical and self-defeating nature of the clauses that pretend to protect the rights of academics, journalists, artists and religious groups,” Horn said.
The EFF’s Busisiwe
You’ve reached your free article limit
Subscribe to enjoy unlimited access to trusted journalism. Cancel anytime.
Subscribe nowNeed help? molokom@insidepolitic.co.za
