Ernst Roets, AfriForum’s Head of Policy and Action, was set to appear in the South Gauteng High Court on 3 September 2019, on a charge of contempt of court, brought against him by the Nelson Mandela Foundation. The case was postponed until 4 September 2019, after the judge ruled that the urgent court roll was full.
The charge follows Roets tweet of an image of the old South African flag and the question “Did I just commit hate speech?”
The charge relates to the recent ruling by Judge Phineas Mojapelo that the private or public gratuitous display of the old South African flag amounted to hate speech.
The Nelson Mandela Foundation filed charges against both Roets individually and AfriForum. While AfriForum and Roets are on record saying that they do not display the flag, they will oppose the charges, among other on the basis that Roets tweet was within the ambit of the judgment.
They will also plead for civil liberties and take a stand against censorship and banning.
Read the original article in Afrikaans on AfriForum
South Africa Today – South Africa News
