Media

Free Speech Matters Episode 9: The National Dialogue - expensive and unnecessary

FSU SA's Sara Gon and the IRR's Terence Corrigan chat about President Ramaphosa's National Dialogue. It's a one day conference for the ANC to decide what sort of society South Africa should be. The guests are largely retired from public life and are partisan to the ANC. Everyone knows and has talked about what South Africa needs to be successful, so the ANC knows and either can't or just won't do it. What can come out of it that is valuable, relevant or necessary?

IAMHIST's discriminatory gatekeeping at UCT

The International Association for Media and History (IAMHIST) made it a requirement for Israeli academics attending an IAMHIST conference held at UCT in June that Israeli attendees provide sworn statements confirming they have no ties to the Israel Defence Forces or the broader Israeli military establishment. This was not required of any other nationalities. It appears to be an application of UCT Council's 'Gaza' resolution in 2024 which prohibits UCT academics from engaging with any research group affiliated with the IDF. The resolution is currently the subject of court application by Prof. Adam Mendelsohn to strike the Council resolution down.

Free Speech Matters Episode 8: 'Kill the Boer' - the Constitutional Court won't allow an appeal

Free Speech Union of South Africa's Sara Gon interviews Advocate Mark Oppenheimer about the Constitutional Court's rejection of AfriForum's application to appeal the court decisions that "Kill the Boer" is not hate speech.

Should freedom of speech be unlimited or should it be circumscribed to limit harm - a debate in a park

Campaign for Free Expression hosted debates about free speech on a Saturday in a park. It was a festival of music, debates and all round fun. The venue was the Kingston Frost Park in Brixton, Johannesburg. It was a family affair - kids were running around having a ball. Adults were lazying about on the grass drinking quality coffee and food set up for sale. Terence Corrigan spoke in favour of unlimited speech and this was his address.

Podcast - Free Speech Matters Episode 7: Stifling debate critical about 'gender affirming care'

Sara Gon interviews Dr. Janet Giddy, of First Do No Harm Southern Africa (FDNHSA), who discusses the difficulties faced by those who subscribe to evidence-based treatment of gender dysphoria, rather than transgender activists who promote 'gender affirming care'.

The telos of UCT Faculty of Health Sciences: truth or social justice?

UCT’s FHS held a symposium entitled “LGBTQIA+ Health and Advocacy Symposium”. FHS's primary aim is on-demand, state funded ‘gender-affirming care’, including the use of puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones and surgery. Those who support a scientific, medically evidenced approach, including First Do No Harm Southern Africa were invited to attend then uninvited.

How about some chill from government for MacG

Crassness and vulgarity on podcasts can be condemned by anyone and everyone in society but perspective is important - our society has many deeply troubling issues to confront. Losing it over a celebrity podcaster's poor taste and crass utterances is a waste of energy. Nicholas Lorimer writes about this storm in a teacup and, additionally, voices grave concern that government will step in and regulate our free speech.

Press release: Government, don't touch us on our podcasters, even if they are vulgar, crass and childish

The extremely popular podcaster MacG asked some very vulgar and crass questions to a celebrity in an interview. Government wants to step in and protect us from such dross. FSU SA says society can handle this stuff; government must not circumscribe our vibrant podcasting industry. Government can easily decide that podcasts by serious analysts criticising government policy should receive its attentions.