Hofmeyr’s matter postponed to 2023

Singer ‘degraded’ gay community

Hours of deliberations between representatives of the SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) and lawyers for singer Steven Hofmeyr at the Gqeberha high court yesterday culminated in the equality court matter being postponed to 2023.

Hofmeyr, who was not in Gqeberha, is expected to answer to claims that he made salacious comments allegedly comparing members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Intersex and Queer (LGBTIQ+) community to paedophiles and suggesting they take part in bestiality.

The matter was set down yesterday for a directives hearing to determine the next step in the matter.

SAHRC provincial manager Dr Eileen Carter said the matter was now set down for February 16, when arguments would be heard regarding jurisdiction and why the SAHRC had brought the matter to court. Carter said a further application would be brought to add local NGO OUT LGBT Well-Being to the matter as complainants.

On June 2, the SAHRC and the LGBTIQ+ support group, OUT LGBT Well-Being, approached the court to institute legal action against Hofmeyr for derogatory comments and sentiments he made about the usage of the plus (+) at the end of the acronym.