South Africa Plans to Introduce Hate Crime LegislationLISA ANDERSON, SEPTEMBER 2, 2013
South Africa is taking steps to introduce hate crime legislation, which would include laws to prosecute physical and verbal attacks on foreigners and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, according to local media reports.
Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Jeff Radebe confirmed his department had finalised a draft policy framework on "Combating Hate Crimes, Hate Speech and Unfair Discrimination" in a speech to the national conference of the South African Jewish Board of Deputies at an event entitled "Imagine a World Without Hate!"
To date, South Africa has had no formal laws against hate speech or hate crimes related to intolerance of or discrimination against people on the basis of their race, gender, religion, nationality, sexual orientation or other forms of identity.
