South African musician, Steve Hofmeyr, will have to pay R100,000 to an LGBTQIA+ organization as part of a hate speech settlement for discriminatory comments he made on social media.
Non-profit organization (NPO) Out and the Human Rights Commission (HRC) took Hofmeyr to the Equality Court in Gqeberha.
This was after he told hundreds of thousands of his followers in April 2022 that the LGBTQIA+ acronym included those who engaged in bestiality, and that the gay community supported the “grooming” of children.
As a condition of the settlement, the court also ordered Hofmeyr to publicly apologise and participate in a diversity workshop.
The organization’s human rights manager, Lerato Phalakatshela, said that the right to freedom of speech should not be used to demonize a community with false and hateful statements that helped with creating a stigmatising and threatening environment.
“There are issues in the country, in terms of hate speech and discrimination, and at times it comes from prominent people, and it can be damaging if not dealt with, especially if it’s someone who has a big following, like Steve Hofmeyr.”
-EWN
In other news – Heartbroken Sni Mhlongo picking up the pieces after being cheated on by Zamani Mbatha
South African actor Zamani Mbatha‘s ex-girlfriend Snikiwe “Sni” Mhlongo is trying to come to terms with Zamani’s betrayal after he allegedly cheated on her with another girl.
The YouTuber and social media influencer took to Instagram to open up about how she is coping following the cheating scandal. She posted a heartbreaking Instagram story in which she suggested that she was dying. As she reflected on the past few days, she said she was trying to pick up the pieces and thanked everyone for their love and kind messages since she exposed Zamani’s cheating. Learn More
