The civil rights organisation AfriForum took part in the thirteenth United Nations Forum on Minority Issues session. This year\u2019s theme was \u201cHate Speech, Social Media and Minorities\u201d, therefore Ernst Roets, AfriForum\u2019s Head of Policy and Action, did a presentation via video feed on hate speech against minorities in South Africa.<\/p>\n
\u201cHate speech directed at minorities in South Africa is a persistent and serious issue. After news of a farm murder is reported, social media is frequently filled with comments in which the murder is celebrated, or comments calling on minorities to \u2018go back to Europe\u2019,\u201d says Roets.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\u201cThe crisis is not limited to social media and the government does nothing to address the issue. Hate speech is regularly committed by influential politicians and leaders of the government and the ruling party. Songs containing hate speech, like \u201cKill the boer, kill the farmer\u201d, \u201cOne bullet, one settler\u201d and \u201cShoot the Boer\u201d is sung regularly.\u201d<\/p>\n
According to Roets hate speech has real consequences. In a study that the organisation conducted on high profile incidents of hate speech, it was found that farm murders and attacks increased in the months after such utterances were made and were reported on in the media.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfriForum\u2019s presentation at the United Nations Forum on Minority Issues session forms part of our campaign to inform the international community of what is happening in South Africa. The world must know, and we are making progress in making that happen,\u201d Roets concludes.<\/p>\n
As part of AfriForum\u2019s campaign against hate speech directed at minority groups, the organisation released a video detailing high-profile and shocking occurrences of hate speech, as well as outlining how people can assist AfriForum in its fight.<\/p>\n