Launch of the Free Speech Union South Africa
29 June 2022
The Institute of Race Relations is proud to announce the formation of the Free Speech Union South Africa (FSU SA).
FSU SA is associated with FSU UK, which was founded in 2020 to advocate for free speech in light of increasing incidents of free speech being curtailed in universities and workplaces, the ‘cancellation’ of individuals due to comments made on social media, and the introduction of legislation directly infringing free speech.
South Africa has constitutional protection of free speech through Section 16(2) of the Constitution which provides that the only limits to free speech are that it may not amount 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.
These provisions are, in our view, appropriately limited, allowing very little restriction on free speech. However, the Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act of 2000 increases the grounds on which free speech can be limited.