Discrimination is rife in SA

NICOLA MILTZ

The research, called The Hate & Bias Crimes Monitoring Form Project, covered incidents of hate crimes in five provinces in South Africa in an attempt to gauge the types, nature and impact of hate crimes perpetuated against individuals and communities.

According to the key findings, after documenting 945 cases of hate crimes, prejudice was reported to be “rife” across all socio-economic groups – and the impact of hate crime “exceeds” what we think we know and understand. “What is clear… is that hate crimes are often devastating to surviving victims,” said the report.

“Prejudice undeniably exists among our people despite all our best efforts to eradicate it, and it has tragic consequences far exceeding our everyday knowledge and awareness.”

Alana Baranov of the SA Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD) said on Wednesday that, following the tragic outbreak of xenophobic violence against foreign migrants in 2008, the board spearheaded the Jewish community’s relief efforts on behalf of the victims.

It interacted and collaborated with other human rights bodies involved in such relief work at the time and was a founding member of the HCWG – a network of civil society organisations – which was formed as a direct consequence of the xenophobia crisis.

“Members of the network work in diverse sectors, such as LGBTI rights; migrants, refugees and asylum seekers rights; in gender-based entities; and in broader human rights organisations,” she said.

She added that the board involved itself in all aspects of hate crimes awareness, education and lobbying, “from grassroots initiatives with refugee, migrant and asylum-seeker groups to high-level government meetings”.

Baranov said the study is the most comprehensive review of hate crimes in South Africa to date, and that its insights come at a crucial time in the development of hate crime legislation.

The SAJBD, she said, contributed data on anti-Semitism in South Africa, and had facilitated interviews for the research team with members of the faith-based sector and with refugee and asylum-seeker communities across the country.

“I have been involved in drafting submissions to the relevant parliamentary subcommittees on upcoming hate crimes-related legislation, such as the National Action Plan and the Hate Crimes Bill. Since the HCWG’s findings, the SAJBD has been the sole voice of the religious/faith-based sector, ensuring that the needs of religious communities are addressed in terms of preventing and combating hate crimes and hate speech.”

The report suggests that now, more than ever, the country’s leaders “must realise how crucial their voices are in taking a firm stance against all forms of intolerance, bigotry and discrimination if hate crime is to be stemmed”.