Hate speech has no place in South Africa – SAJBD

5 January 2016

The hate filled language that has presented itself on social media over the past couple of days has no place in democratic South Africa.

The SA Jewish Board of Deputies condemns all forms of racial hatred in a country that is still healing from the pain of our past. These statements undermine the values of our Constitution and result in the destructive racial polarisation that we have seen over the past days.

We all need to acknowledge that racism remains a serious problem in South Africa and needs to be addressed with the seriousness it deserves; and its ultimate solution lies in the total sum of the committed efforts of all South Africans. 

We call for all South Africans to return to the fundamental principles of our Freedom Charter and Constitution, “South Africa Belongs to all who live in it, united in our diversity.”

Statement issued by Wendy Kahn, National Director, South African Jewish Board of Deputies, 5 January 2016