Hate Speech Bill – Submission to the Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services
We have made a submission to parliament to oppose the criminalisation of the Hate Speech Bill. We deal with the extensive definition of hate speech and the large number of grounds on which hate may be based; the unconstitutionality of the provisions; the expanded concept of harm; selective prosecution; and exemptions.
The essence is that the criminalisation of hate speech threatens to impinging on the foundational importance of right of free speech, thought and belief.
Hate Speech Bill in late 2022: Still a threat to free expression?
The “Hate Speech” Bill should not provide for as many “protected grounds” against hate speech as it does: it should be limited by the narrower terms contained in Section 16 of the Constitution. The Bill’s definition of “harm” is too wide as well. In fact, it can be scrapped in its entirety as the existing Equality Act is more than sufficient.