HRC to take Mngxitama to court
The South African Human Rights Commission has resolved to institute litigation against Andile Mngxitama in the Equality Court.
This follows numerous complaints lodged with the commission over comments made by the Black First Land First (BLF) leader at a rally on December 8 in Potchefstroom.
On Thursday‚ the commission said in a statement it was “deeply concerned by the ongoing public statements by political leaders and members of the public, which have the potential of causing harm to the right to security of persons.
“They also damage social cohesion and undermine national unity in this country.”
While the commission promoted and defended the right of freedom of expression‚ it said this did not extend to hurtful and divisive rhetoric.
“The commission is of the view that the utterances by Mr Mngxitama go beyond the legally permissible limits of free speech‚ hence the decision to institute action in the Equality Court against him.”
The ACDP and its leader, the Rev Kenneth Meshoe, laid a complaint with the police on Thursday against Mngxitama for his “vitriolic‚ dangerous and racist statements”.
The party said the BLF leader should be brought to book over his rant in Potchefstroom, when he said about whites: “We’ll kill their children. We’ll kill their wives . . . We’ll kill their dogs. We’ll kill their cats.”
Meshoe’s ACDP said in a bluntly worded statement: “Mngxitama is an enemy of peace and reconciliation and should be arrested and prosecuted for hate crimes.
“Mngxitama’s comments are fuel to incite violence and harm on others‚ based purely on the colour of their skin. This hate speech borders on a call to commit genocide and cannot be left unchallenged.”