SAHRC Condemns Alleged R*pe and Death Threats Against Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma
The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has condemned an alleged social media post calling for the rpe and klling of March and March leader Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, and has urged police to identify and arrest the person behind it.
In a statement today, Thursday, the commission said threats or calls for r*pe are criminal offences and may constitute hate speech. It added that such messages are not protected as political expression.
Ngobese-Zuma opened a case at Durban Central Police Station on Tuesday, 6 October, after a Facebook post allegedly used her photograph and called for her to be rped and klled.
The post was later deleted, but screenshots were widely circulated.
The alleged post has been attributed to 29-year-old Sello Lemonka Gemba, who reportedly identifies as being from Taung in the Northern Cape and works for the Department of Education. Police have not confirmed an arrest.
The ANC has also condemned the alleged remarks, saying there can be no political, personal or ideological justification for inciting r*pe, murder or violence. The party said it was investigating whether Gemba is an ANC member.
The SAHRC has called for law-enforcement agencies to act against the alleged perpetrator and urged social media platforms to do more to prevent the spread of gender-based violence and hate speech.
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