Hate speech supports the culture of discrimination and violence against LGBTI people in South Africa.

The Joint Working Group, a national network of LGBTI-focussed (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex) organisations in South Africa, supports the Equality Court ruling that Jon Qwelane’s statements in his “JQ Column in the Sunday Sun Newspaper” constitute hate speech and propagate hatred and discrimination against lesbian and gay people.  We commend the South African Human Rights Commission for following through on this matter.

We oppose the following statement by the Department of International Relations and Co-operation (DIRCO):

“JQ column was of a personal nature and written in his personal capacity. It was also written before he was appointed”

To name hate speech on any grounds as a private or personal matter is a disingenuous attempt by the DIRCO to side-step all responsibility in the matter.  At issue is not so much the fact that Qwelane’s hate speech preceded his appointment as ambassador to Uganda, but that his appointment proceeded despite his hate speech and despite public outcry opposing this appointment. It is time for the DIRCO to take responsibility for appointing someone who publically engages in hate speech against LGBTI people as an ambassador to a country that is contemplating the death penalty for people ‘found guilty’ of engaging in same-sex relationships and practices.

Furthermore, Jon Qwelane’s failure to engage in any way with the Equality Court processes shows an absolute disregard for the laws and the mechanisms that have been put in place to promote equality in our country.  Recently a task team has been proposed by Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Development to address the on-going problem of violence against LGBTI people in South Africa.   However, there continues to be a failure on the part of government to recognise that the statements and arguments made by Qwelane are the very views that support and condone a culture of violence against LGBTI people.

1. The Department of International Relations and Co-operation must immediately recall Jon Qwelane from his current post as the South African Ambassador to Uganda.
2. We call for a public and widely publicised statement from the highest officials in the DIRCO and Ministry of Justice, SAPS, the NPA, condemning the views articulated by Jon Qwelane and recognising such statements as hate speech that support and condone a culture of violence and discrimination against LGBTI people.
3. We call on the Equality Court to use all powers at its disposal to ensure that Jon Qwelane is bound by and abides by the ruling of the Court. 

For more information, please contact:

Jill Henderson

Triangle Project

Research, Advocacy &  Policy Programme Co-ordinator

E-mail: research3@triangle.org.za

Physical Address: Unit 29 Waverley Business Park, Dane Street, Mowbray 7700

Postal Address: PO Box 13935, Mowbray, 7705

Tel: (021) 448 3812

Fax: (021) 448 4089

Website www.triangle.org.za