By BAKANG MOKOTO

The African National Congress Women’s League (ANCWL) said it is concerned regarding continuous personal attacks on the Minister of Cooperative Government and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.

This comes after some Facebook posts depicting Dlamini-Zuma as a monkey and some videos insulting her circulated on social media platforms. ANCWL Secretary-General, Meokgo Matuba said hate speech and verbal attacks against Dlamini-Zuma are unwarranted.

“Whilst, everyone has the right to communicate his or her opinions and ideas and share information in whatever form, the freedom of speech has limitations. Section 16 (2) of the constitution of South Africa states that the freedom of expression does not extend to propaganda for war, incitement of imminent violence, or advocacy of hatred that is based on race, ethnicity, gender, or religion, and that constitutes incitement to cause harm.

“It is our view that those who post distasteful Facebook messages and videos about Dlamini-Zuma are mostly influenced by their hatred of her race and gender. Patriachists and racists have no place in our country. They are toxic elements that will reverse the gains of our democracy that the likes of Dlamini-Zuma sacrificed their lives for,” Matuba.

She added that South Africans, who believe in non-sexist, non-racial democratic and prosperous South Africa must hold hands, expose and decisively deal with these misogynist and racist elements. Matuba said the ANCWL also calls on the South African Human Rights Commission and the Commission for Gender Equality to also investigate the matter.

“ANCWL calls on its members, supporters, and society in general to support Minister Dlamini-Zuma and all the members of the National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC) under President Cyril Ramaphosa.

“The law must take its course against these racists and patriarchists. If the law delays, the peace-loving South Africans might run out of patience and opt to visit these perpetrators for face-to-face chat which might not be a friendly chat,” she said.

Matuba said they will accompany Dlamini-Zuma will accompany her to the police station to lay charges against her attackers. Dlamini-Zuma received excessive criticisms from the ‘segment of individuals’ as they believe that she is behind the continuous ban on the sales of cigarettes during the national lockdown period in South Africa due to COVID-19 pandemic.

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