SAHRC takes legal action against Gqeberha shop owner for displaying anti-LGBTQ+ sign
The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has announced it is initiating legal proceedings against a Gqeberha shop owner, Dawood Lagardien, for publicly displaying an anti-LGBTQ+ sign outside his business.
The commission alleges the sign constitutes discrimination, hate speech and harassment against the LGBTQ+ community.
The sign displayed outside Lagardien's business read: 'LGBTQ not welcome at La Gardi — Save our children.'
According to the SAHRC, the signage was intended to exclude members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and asexual+ (LGBTQ+) community from accessing services offered by the business.
'In addition, the respondent established and actively managed a WhatsApp group titled 'Our Rights — anti LGBTQ+', which contains statements and material that appear to incite harm against individuals who identify as LGBTQ+ and related communities. After assessment of the complaint , the commission has concluded that the alleged actions by Mr Dawood Lagardien constitute hate speech and/or harassment as contemplated in terms of sections 10 and 11 of the Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act (PEPUDA or Equality Act),' said the commission.
The commission emphasised 'the critical importance' of fostering a society rooted in non-discrimination, while actively promoting and safeguarding the right to equality for all individuals, irrespective of their sexual orientation.
'The commission is empowered in terms of section 13(3)(b) of the South African Human Rights Commission Act (SAHRC Act), to bring proceedings in a competent court or tribunal in its own name or on behalf of a person or a group or class of people,' it said.
The case is scheduled to be heard in the Equality Court sitting in the East London high court on Monday.
TimesLIVE
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Herald
4 hours ago
- The Herald
Woman is held for ‘beating toddler with a bottle'
A Nelson Mandela Bay woman has been arrested for allegedly assaulting her three-year-old child with a bottle. Police spokesperson Captain Sandra Janse van Rensburg said Motherwell police attended to a complaint in the Shukushukuma area at about 6.30pm on Thursday. 'On arrival they were informed by a witness that while passing a house, he noticed the female suspect assaulting her three-year-old son with an empty bottle,' Janse van Rensburg said. 'The witness entered the house to intervene and managed to stop the woman and alerted the police. 'The boy was taken to hospital by family and had visible injuries to his head and face. 'The female suspect was arrested on charges of attempted murder and child abuse.' Janse van Rensburg said the 35-year-old woman would appear in the Motherwell magistrate's court on Monday. The matter is being investigated by the family violence, child protection and sexual offences unit. The Herald
The Herald
7 hours ago
- The Herald
Men implicated in North End Lake horror denied bail
The state successfully opposed bail for five men accused of a series of violent crimes committed in Gqeberha in October 2024. The charges include robbery with aggravating circumstances, murder, attempted murder, kidnapping, and rape. The accused — aged between 18 and 35 — were arrested between October and December 2024. The charges stem from a brutal incident near North End Lake, in Milner Avenue, on Saturday October 12, during which a man was fatally stabbed, another severely injured, and two women were kidnapped and sexually assaulted. District court prosecutor Asavela Dweba strongly opposed the five accused's bail applications, citing the severity and violent nature of the crimes, that they were believed to be a flight risk, the danger posed to the community, and the trauma endured by the surviving victims. She also warned of the potential for witness intimidation and interference with the investigation. The court ruled in favour of the state, stating that the accused had failed to provide compelling personal circumstances to justify their release. It also acknowledged the strength of the case against them. Some of the accused also had various previous convictions or pending cases. The case was postponed to August 14 for further investigation. The Herald
The Herald
11 hours ago
- The Herald
Judge asked to retract generalised race-based remarks
Judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng has been urged to withdraw his 'unfortunate' remarks directed at a defence lawyer. The chairperson of the parliamentary justice portfolio committee Xola Nqola said the comments border on racism. 'We want to strongly condemn the totally unacceptable utterances. The incompetence or behaviour of legal practitioners has nothing to do with race, as he has alluded to in court. The remarks are extremely unfortunately and a gross generalisation.' The presiding judge in the long-running trial of five men accused of the murder of footballer Senzo Meyiwa was referring to the message, sent to his registrar, indicating the absence of the legal representative of two of the accused in court on Monday. Advocate Charles Mnisi said he would be running the Comrades Marathon on Sunday and would only drive back to Gauteng the next day. Mokgoatlheng then said: 'This is South Africa run by blacks. I don't think a white advocate would have had the gall to ask me that.' Nqola said: 'While we understand the frustration of the judge, families and accused with the duration of the trial, it is totally unacceptable to imply black legal professionals act unprofessionally compared to their white counterparts. We urge him to refrain from such gross generalisations. Furthermore, we demand judge Mokgoatlheng withdraws his comments and apologises to the nation.' A year ago the judge apologised for another outburst. Defence lawyer Thulani Mngomezulu had failed to pitch at the high court in Pretoria court on that day and also failed to formally communicate with the court about his absence. This prompted Mokgoatlheng's reaction: 'Is this how black lawyers behave, some of them?' Mokgoatlheng soon tendered an apology, saying: 'On reflection and after some thought, I admit my comments could be interpreted as intemperate, ill-advised, ill-considered or offensive, and if that is the perception, then I want to state I unreservedly withdraw the comments.' TimesLIVE
