Media Statement: Attack on Constitutional Laws

MEDIA STATEMENT: 25 01 2024

THE HATE CRIMES WORKING GROUP EXPRESSES OUTRAGE AT FORMER PRESIDENT JACOB ZUMA’S COUNTER-REVOLUTIONARY UTTERANCES ON SAME-SEX MARRIAGES AND THE RIGHTS OF LGBTI+ PEOPLE IN SOUTH AFRICA.

The Hate Crimes Working Group (HCWG)* is appalled by comments made by the former President Jacob Zuma that attack the constitutional laws of South Africa and attempt to erode the hard-won human rights of LGBTQI+ people and same-sex couples.

 In Pietermaritzburg during a campaign where he addressed over 3000 umKhonto weSizwe (MK) party supporters, which is set to participate in this year’s elections, the former President commented that ‘If we win as a party, we will change the repressive laws’ (referring to laws legalising same-sex marriage).

The HCWG understands and appreciates the gains made in a democratic dispensation, which the former President also presided over. Our democracy crafted a constitution that expressly forbids discrimination, and fiercely protects the equality, freedom, and dignity of all who live within its jurisdiction. However, we are very aware of, and continually frustrated with the way social ills, e.g. poverty, homelessness, abuse and violence, contribute to the reversal of these gains. Both our services and justice systems need strengthening and support, but ethical political leadership and accountability in governance are critical to achieve this.

We call on Mr Zuma and the MK to put the people of South Africa first. To prioritise the poor, marginalised and disadvantaged communities before party politics, and their personal interests. A majority of LGBTI+ communities remain oppressed and marginalised in society, prejudiced by religious, traditional, family conservatives and even political leaders. Often this leads to hate crimes, which make it even more important to vigorously promote the elimination of discrimination, limit hateful speech, and foster understanding and inclusion of LGBTQI+ relationships, families, and communities.

We intend to mobilise LGBTQI+ and other communities to vote for political formations that show their seriousness about the livelihoods of all people in South Africa; those that promote a culture of unity; those that respect and promote human rights; those that focus on improving service delivery, which is currently lacking and thereby contributing  to the violations and hate crimes we experience in South Africa every day.

We work tirelessly to uphold the dignity, equality and freedom of all individuals and communities, and to prevent hate crimes and hate speech, and we expect the same dedication from all our leaders.

*The HCWG is a multi-sectoral network of civil society organizations set up to spearhead advocacy and reform initiatives pertaining to hate crimes in South Africa and the region. Members of the network work in diverse sectors, namely in LGBTQI+ rights; migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers rights; gender-based entities; and broader human rights organizations. They all share a common concern on the impact of hate crimes in South Africa from the perspective of the victims or from a legal, service provision, research-based or advocacy perspective.

ENDS