AfriForum wants to tackle Watson in Equality Court re "hate speech" unless he apologises

The civil rights initiative AfriForum's legal team will send a letter to the Springbok rugby player, Luke Watson, in which it is demanded of him to withdraw his statement that "the problem with SA rugby is that it is controlled by Dutchmen" (see here), in writing within seven days and to apologise for it unconditionally. If Watson were to refuse to withdraw his statements, AfriForum intends to have him summoned to the Equality Court on charges of hate speech. Watson made his hurtful statements regarding Afrikaners when he appeared as guest speaker at the Umbumbo Rugby Festival at the University of Cape Town on 3 October 2008.

A similar lawyer's letter was sent by AfriForum this past Friday to the Chairman of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Sport, Butana Komphela as well. In it, AfriForum also demands of Komphela to withdraw his recent statement that whites are "arrogant" regarding the Springbok emblem in writing within seven days and to apologise for it unconditionally.

According to Kallie Kriel, CEO of AfriForum, it is in no-one in the country's interest for Watson and Komphela to be allowed to continue making such polarising statements. "It is high time for them to be called to account in this regard and therefore AfriForum's legal team will do everything in their power to ensure that Watson and Komphela have to try and defend their statements in court," Kriel added.

Kriel pointed out that Watson and Komphela may be summoned to appear in the Equality Court in terms of Article 10 of the Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act (Act 4 of 2000). This article entails that "... no person may ... communicate words based on ... prohibited grounds (of which race and ethnic origin is one), against any person (including groups), that could reasonably be construed to demonstrate a clear intention to - a) be hurtful; b) be harmful ...; c) promote or propagate hatred." According to Kriel, AfriForum regards Komphela and Watson's statements not only to be hurtful to whites and Afrikaners, but to be harmful as well.

In terms of this act, the Equality Court may order someone who contravenes the conditions of the act to apologise unconditionally and to pay damages in the shape of a donation to a suitable organisation. Kriel indicated that if Watson were to be found guilty, AfriForum would ask of him to donate money towards the promotion of civil rights.

Statement issued by Kallie Kriel, CEO of AfriForum, October 12 2008