Hate speech or freedom of expression?
August 3, 2011
Where ever you turn; you are bombarded by actor, author, ex-SA fm talk show presenter and Sowetan newspaper columist Eric Miyeni’s article entitled "Haffajee does it for white masters". Whether this is an alleged attack on City Press editor-in-chief Feral Haffajee on behalf of Julius Malema because Haffajee exposed Malema's finances, or is simply freedom of expression.
Chapter 2 of the Constitution contains the Bill of rights (1996); these are rights that every citizen has available to them. According to Section 16 of the bill- freedom of expression includes among others the right to freedom of press and other media; to receive or share information or ideas.
On Monday the 1st of August the Sowetan published Miyeni's article. In the article Miyeni refers to Haffajee as a “black snake in the grass, deployed by white capital to sow discord among blacks”. Furthermore, Miyeni states that Haffajee has “utter hatred of ANC politicians”. Haffajee in response on Kaya fm (1 August) said that she is interested in the ANC because the DA is a minority party and only has about 20 % of votes. Miyeni concluded that “in the 80s [she would] probably have had a burning tyre around her neck”.
The newspaper fired Miyeni on Monday. However, the most disturbing part about the article is the fact that it was allowed to be published. Editors are responsible for both their journalists and their newspaper. This follows a similar incident in the Sunday World newspaper which had columnist Kuli Roberts fired for her article about coloured people.
Meanwhile, Editor-in-chief of City Press Ferial Haffajee told the Mail & Guardian that “there are many elements of his column that are hate speech and are racist. I was going to ignore it but now I have decided if we all just ignore these things, it sullies our public space and harms non-racialism so I am going to sue him".
The public is entitled to freedom of expression however,the Bill of rights states that this freedom must not allow for harm to take place based on race, gender, religion, etc differences.
In the latest news, editor of the Sowetan newspaper has quit. Miyeni is now calling for the editor-in-chief to be omitted.
Posted by Zodwa Mokoena. Posted In : Opinion and analysis
