Proposed Bill looks at criminalising racism, hate speech
South African's have until the end of business today to comment on a Bill aimed at tackling hate crimes and hate speech.
The Prevention and Combating of Hate Crimes and Hate Speech Bill will see that any person involved in hate crimes or hate speech - such as racism, xenophobia or racial discrimination - is charged or prosecuted.
Alana Baranov is with the SA Jewish Board of Deputies - one of the groups working to raise awareness around the Bill.
She says there may be another round for submissions for this Bill.
"We need to have clear legislation and policies in place to combat hate speech and hate crimes before they turn into something bigger - like Apartheid, or the holocaust, or what happened in Rwanda on our own continent just 20-years ago," says Baranov.
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The proposed Bill comes at a time when South Africa has been plagued by a slew of high-profile racist incidents.
In recent months, KwaZulu Natal has come under the spotlight, after a number of people - namely Penny Sparrow, Dawie Kriel, and Andre Slade - were charged for racist online comments.
If you'd like to comment on the Bill - you can make your submission to the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development. Send an email to: [email protected].
