Media

FSU SA joins global free speech campaign

Free speech is under assault in the English speaking world. The UK, New Zealand and Australia are in a fraught position and, although free speech is not as threatened or not in the same way in South Africa, we've joined with the other FSUs to form the International Association of Free Speech Unions to assist aspirant unions to fight for free speech as foundational to healthy democracies.

Free Speech Matters Episode 3: ‘Lawfare’ - the powerful prosecuting the powerless for criminal hate speech

Welcome to the FSU SA's podcast series on free speech and everything pertinent to it good, bad or perplexing. The series will deal with local and international issues that either have a bearing on South Africa or could provide valuable lessons or insights for South Africans.

Is racism in the eye of the powerful only?

The racism alleged against individuals who don't hold power gets a lot of outraged attention, but the casual yet repeated racism intended to undermine the status of minorities by political leaders and their party officials gets little outraged media response. This is of particular concern given the power of the political elites both to wage 'lawfare' against the weak and to stir up racism to undermine societal relations.

Free Speech Matters Episode 2: The Hate Speech Act - criminal convictions for saying the 'wrong' thing & more

Welcome to the FSU SA's podcast series on free speech and everything pertinent to it good, bad or perplexing. The series will deal with local and international issues that either have a bearing on South Africa or could provide valuable lessons or insights for South Africans

SABC won’t flight DA’s “burning flag” ad: Whose public broadcaster is it, anyway?

The DA advert, depicting a burning flag, has seen moral outrage over the 'desecration' of a national symbol. The SABC refuses to flight it. Not only was it not a real flag, but free speech means being able to do anything (not just say anything). FSU SA argues that it is up to the public to comment on the issue, not the public broadcaster.

The “burning flag” ad, or, much ado about nothing

The has been much 'outrage' at the DA's 'burning flag' advert. It's critical of the ANC, the EFF and MK. And so it should be. The South African flag is a symbol of South Africa. It is not a human being. It is not a religious icon. If a curated burning of it symbolises what the ANC et al have and are doing to the country, that's pretty symbolic. Free speech recognises that. Have no fear, it gets restored to its full glory.

Free Speech Matters Episode.1: 'The Landscape is Darkening' – A Review of Freedom of Expression in South Africa

Welcome to the FSU SA's podcast series on free speech and everything pertinent to it good, bad or perplexing. The series will deal with local and international issues that either have a bearing on South Africa or could provide valuable lessons or insights for South Africans.

UCT Alumni, vote to promote the principles of liberty on the UCT Council!

Elections for UCT's Council are open until 23 April 2024. There are 4 nominees who stand for the principles of liberty, most importantly free speech and association. Such principles are foundational to any university currently, and the past decade has seen a whittling down of these crucial, unassailable principles. UCT Alumni, vote now!