Call for Law to Deal With Hate Crimes

South Africa should urgently promulgate legislation to deal specifically with hate crimes, although the fight against hate crime should be a multifaceted one that should also strive to change the mind-set of perpetrators.

In his report after visiting South Africa earlier this year, Jorge Bustamante, United Nations special rapporteur on the human rights of migrants, encouraged the government to introduce a hate crime bill urgently.

Bustamante argued that any act of violence against individuals or property on the basis of a person’s race, nationality, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation or gender identity should be an aggravating circumstance.

To read the article titled, “Legislation ‘just one way’ to deal with hate crimes,” click here.