Legal expert: Hofmeyr could receive fine or suspended sentence
Criminal lawyer Ulrich Roux believes the justice system is taking a firmer stance against violations on social media.
Roux says Afrikaans singer Steve Hofmeyr could be held liable by a court of law for his comments on social media, should there be enough evidence against him.
"Our courts are taking a firmer stance against such instances but certainly no ones ever been sentenced to jail for intimidation. At this stage, pending any other findings by a court, one would if he were to be found guilty of the charges leveled against him, look at a sentence of a fine or a suspended sentence," says Roux.
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"Freedom of expression is limited obviously by a person's right to dignity and a person's right to freedom so if you say anything that impairs a person's dignity then your right to freedom of expression is curtailed."
The African National Congress (ANC) laid criminal charges against Hofmeyr at the Johannesburg Central Police Station on Monday.
Hofmeyr sparked outrage on social media after he threatened South Africa's ambassador to Denmark Zindzi Mandela and Democratic Alliance (DA) MP Phumzile van Damme with death.