“We Refuse to be Silenced”: Writing a Fallist Politics into the Criminalization of Racist Hate Speech in South Africa

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International Journal of Critical Diversity Studies

Volume 3, Issue 2

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Abstract: found
Article: found

Is Open Access

“We Refuse to be Silenced”: Writing a Fallist Politics into the Criminalization of Racist Hate Speech in South Africa

Published

research-article

Author(s): Sandile Ndelu

Publication date (Print): 1 December 2020

Journal: International Journal of Critical Diversity Studies

Publisher: Pluto Journals

Keywords: Fallism , racism , hate speech , criminalization , South Africa

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Abstract

Content

Author and article information

Contributors

Sandile Ndelu

Journal

Journal ID (doi): 10.2307/j50020082

Journal ID (jcode): intecritdivestud

Title: International Journal of Critical Diversity Studies

Publisher: Pluto Journals

ISSN: 2516-550X

ISSN: 2516-5518

Publication date (Print): 1 December 2020

Volume: 3

Issue: 2 ( doiID: 10.13169/intecritdivestud.3.issue-2 )

Pages: 8-20

Affiliations

Centre for Applied Legal Studies, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa

Article

Publisher ID: intecritdivestud.3.2.0008

DOI: 10.13169/intecritdivestud.3.2.0008

SO-VID: 4ed99c36-64ce-47fe-b299-5cbef0b7eaae

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All content is freely available without charge to users or their institutions. Users are allowed to read, download, copy, distribute, print, search, or link to the full texts of the articles in this journal without asking prior permission of the publisher or the author. Articles published in the journal are distributed under a http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.

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Custom metadata

lang eng

ScienceOpen disciplines: Social & Behavioral Sciences

Keywords: South Africa , criminalization , hate speech , racism , Fallism

References

Afriforum and Another v Malema and Others, 4 All SA 293 ZAEqC (2011).
Baldwin, J. (1984). African self-consciousness and the mental health of African Americans. Journal of Black Studies, 15(2), 177–194.
Biko, S. (2004). I Write What I Like. Johannesburg: Picador Africa.
Franklin, A. J., & Boyd-Franklin, N. (2000). Invisibility syndrome: A clinical model of the effects of racism on African-American males. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 70(1), 33–41.
Chinguno, C., Kgoroba, M., Mashibini, S., Maubane, B., Moyo, N., Mthombeni, A., & Ndlovu, H. (2017). Rioting and Writing: Diaries of Wits Fallists. Johannesburg: SWOP. Retrieved from https://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/de7bea_8ff05c74ed634e1fbf3d179284f74cd6.pdf
Conrad, A. (2015). On exhaustion over a lack of understanding. Retrieved from Johannesburg Workshop in Theory and Criticism: http://jwtc.org.za/the_salon/volume_9/ameera_conrad.htm
ENCA. (2017). Mabel Jansen in hot seat over racism. Retrieved from: http://www.enca.com/southafrica/mabel-jansen-faces-inquiry-into-racism-accusations
Feltham, L. (2016). Matthew Theunissen's racist rant goes viral. Retrieved from Mail & Guardian, May 3: https://mg.co.za/article/2016-05-03-twitter-erupts-after-matthew-theunissen-racist-rant-goes-viral
Freeman, A. D. (1995). Legitimizing racial discrimination through antidiscrimination law: A critical review of Supreme Court doctrine. In K. Crenshaw, N. Gotanda, G. Preller, & K. Thomas (Eds.), Critical Race Theory: The Key Writings that Formed the Movement (pp. 29–46). New York: New Press.
Gotanda, N. (1995). A critique of “Our constitution is colour-blind”. In K. Crenshaw, N. Gotanda, G. Preller, & K. Thomas (Eds.), Crtical Race Theory: The Key Writings that Formed the Movement (pp. 257–276). New York: New Press.
Guenther, K. (2009). The politics of names: Rethinking the methodological and ethical significance of naming people, organizations, and places. Qualitative Research, 411–421.
Hate Crimes Working Group. (2016). Submission of the Hate Crimes Working Group: Prevention and combating of hate crimes and hate speech bill. Retrieved from ohttp://hcwg.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/HCWG-submission-HCB-2017-01-31.pdf
Helen Suzmman Foundation. (2016). Submission in response to the Prevention and Combating of Hate Crimes and Hate Speech Bill. Retrieved from: http://hsf.org.za/resource-centre/hsf-briefs/submission-on-the-prevention-and-combating-of-hate-crimes-and-hate-speech-bill
Independent Online. (2018). Hate speech bill approved by Cabinet – Jeffery. Retrieved March 15 from: https://www.iol.co.za/news/politics/hate-speech-bill-approved-by-cabinet-jeffery-13839009
Laing, A. (2015). Students pelt colonialist Cecil Rhodes' statue with excrement. The Telegraph, March 17. Retrieved August 12, 2018, from https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/southafrica/11478634/Students-pelt-colonialist-Cecil-Rhodes-statue-with-excrement.html
Langa, M. (2017). #FeesMustFall Movement at South African Universities. Johannesburg: Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation.
Masutha, M. (2016). Media Briefing by Minister Masutha on the Prevention of Hate Crimes and Hate Speech Bill, October 24. Retrieved from Deaprtment of Justice & Constitutional Development: http://www.justice.gov.za/m_statements/2016/20161024-HateCrimes.html
Mills, C. W. (2003). From class to race: Essays in white Marxism and black radicalism. New York: Rowman & Littlefield.
Modiri, J. (2013). Race, realism and critique: The politics of race and Afriforum v Malema in the (in) Equality Court. South African Law Journal, 130, 274.
Modiri, J. (2016). The “event” of racism. The Daily Maverick, November 17. Retrieved June 23, 2017, from https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/2016-11-17-the-event-of-racism/#.WUbrKDpLfIV
Morake, N. (2015). Why decolonising UCT is imperative. Retrieved from Johannesburg Workshop in Theory and Criticism: http://jwtc.org.za/the_salon/volume_9/ntebaleng_morake.htm
Naidoo, L.-A. (2016). Contemporary student politics in South Africa: The rise of the black-led student movements of #RhodesMustFall in 2015. In A. Heffernan & N. Nieftagodien (Eds.), Students must rise: Youth struggle in South Africa before and beyond Soweto '76 (pp. 180–190). Johannesburg: Wits University Press.
Nancy, B.-F. A. (2000). Invisibility syndrome: A clinical model of the effects of racism on African American males. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 70(1), 33–41.
Ndelu, S. (2017). “Liberation is a falsehood”: Fallism at the University of Cape Town. In M. Langa (Ed.), #Hashtag: An analysis of the #FeesMustFall Movement at South African Universities (pp. 58–82). Johannesburg: Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation.
Penny Sparrow. (2016). Retrieved from SABC News Online: https://storify.com/sabcnewsonline/penny-sparrow
Pijoos, I. (2018). Vicki Momberg denied bail, sentenced to three years in prison for racist rant. Retrieved from Mail & Guardian, March 28: https://mg.co.za/article/2018-03-28-vicki-momberg-sentenced-to-an-effective-2-years-in-prison-for-racist-rant
Public[a]ction Collective. (2017). Publica[c]tion. Publica[c]tion Collective. https://studiostudiowork-work.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Publicaction_PDF-for-Web_pages.pdf
Rhodes Must Fall. (2015). The Rhodes Must Fall mission statement read out at today's mass meeting and before the removal of the statue, 9 April 2015. Retrieved from Johannesburg Workshop on Theory and Criticism: http://jwtc.org.za/the_salon/volume_9/rmf_statements.htm
Right2Know Campaign. (2016). Right2Know Campaign submission on the Prevention & Combating of Hate Crimes & Hate Speech Bill. Retrieved from Right2Know Campaign: http://www.r2k.org.za/wp-content/uploads/Right2Know-Campaign-Submission-on-the-draft-Prevention-Combating-of-Hate-Crimes-Hate-Speech-Bill.pdf
Williams, D. & Williams-Morris, R. (2000). Racism and mental health: The African American experience. Ethnicity and Health, 4, 243.

Comments

Comment on this article

[1] Afriforum and Another v Malema and Others, 4 All SA 293 ZAEqC (2011).

[2] Baldwin, J. (1984). African self-consciousness and the mental health of African Americans. Journal of Black Studies, 15(2), 177–194.

[3] Biko, S. (2004). I Write What I Like. Johannesburg: Picador Africa.

[4] Franklin, A. J., & Boyd-Franklin, N. (2000). Invisibility syndrome: A clinical model of the effects of racism on African-American males. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 70(1), 33–41.

[5] Chinguno, C., Kgoroba, M., Mashibini, S., Maubane, B., Moyo, N., Mthombeni, A., & Ndlovu, H. (2017). Rioting and Writing: Diaries of Wits Fallists. Johannesburg: SWOP. Retrieved from https://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/de7bea_8ff05c74ed634e1fbf3d179284f74cd6.pdf

[6] Conrad, A. (2015). On exhaustion over a lack of understanding. Retrieved from Johannesburg Workshop in Theory and Criticism: http://jwtc.org.za/the_salon/volume_9/ameera_conrad.htm

[7] ENCA. (2017). Mabel Jansen in hot seat over racism. Retrieved from: http://www.enca.com/southafrica/mabel-jansen-faces-inquiry-into-racism-accusations

[8] Feltham, L. (2016). Matthew Theunissen's racist rant goes viral. Retrieved from Mail & Guardian, May 3: https://mg.co.za/article/2016-05-03-twitter-erupts-after-matthew-theunissen-racist-rant-goes-viral

[9] Freeman, A. D. (1995). Legitimizing racial discrimination through antidiscrimination law: A critical review of Supreme Court doctrine. In K. Crenshaw, N. Gotanda, G. Preller, & K. Thomas (Eds.), Critical Race Theory: The Key Writings that Formed the Movement (pp. 29–46). New York: New Press.

[10] Gotanda, N. (1995). A critique of “Our constitution is colour-blind”. In K. Crenshaw, N. Gotanda, G. Preller, & K. Thomas (Eds.), Crtical Race Theory: The Key Writings that Formed the Movement (pp. 257–276). New York: New Press.

[11] Guenther, K. (2009). The politics of names: Rethinking the methodological and ethical significance of naming people, organizations, and places. Qualitative Research, 411–421.

[12] Hate Crimes Working Group. (2016). Submission of the Hate Crimes Working Group: Prevention and combating of hate crimes and hate speech bill. Retrieved from ohttp://hcwg.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/HCWG-submission-HCB-2017-01-31.pdf

[13] Helen Suzmman Foundation. (2016). Submission in response to the Prevention and Combating of Hate Crimes and Hate Speech Bill. Retrieved from: http://hsf.org.za/resource-centre/hsf-briefs/submission-on-the-prevention-and-combating-of-hate-crimes-and-hate-speech-bill

[14] Independent Online. (2018). Hate speech bill approved by Cabinet – Jeffery. Retrieved March 15 from: https://www.iol.co.za/news/politics/hate-speech-bill-approved-by-cabinet-jeffery-13839009

[15] Laing, A. (2015). Students pelt colonialist Cecil Rhodes' statue with excrement. The Telegraph, March 17. Retrieved August 12, 2018, from https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/southafrica/11478634/Students-pelt-colonialist-Cecil-Rhodes-statue-with-excrement.html

[16] Langa, M. (2017). #FeesMustFall Movement at South African Universities. Johannesburg: Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation.

[17] Masutha, M. (2016). Media Briefing by Minister Masutha on the Prevention of Hate Crimes and Hate Speech Bill, October 24. Retrieved from Deaprtment of Justice & Constitutional Development: http://www.justice.gov.za/m_statements/2016/20161024-HateCrimes.html

[18] Mills, C. W. (2003). From class to race: Essays in white Marxism and black radicalism. New York: Rowman & Littlefield.

[19] Modiri, J. (2013). Race, realism and critique: The politics of race and Afriforum v Malema in the (in) Equality Court. South African Law Journal, 130, 274.

[20] Modiri, J. (2016). The “event” of racism. The Daily Maverick, November 17. Retrieved June 23, 2017, from https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/2016-11-17-the-event-of-racism/#.WUbrKDpLfIV

[21] Morake, N. (2015). Why decolonising UCT is imperative. Retrieved from Johannesburg Workshop in Theory and Criticism: http://jwtc.org.za/the_salon/volume_9/ntebaleng_morake.htm

[22] Naidoo, L.-A. (2016). Contemporary student politics in South Africa: The rise of the black-led student movements of #RhodesMustFall in 2015. In A. Heffernan & N. Nieftagodien (Eds.), Students must rise: Youth struggle in South Africa before and beyond Soweto '76 (pp. 180–190). Johannesburg: Wits University Press.

[23] Nancy, B.-F. A. (2000). Invisibility syndrome: A clinical model of the effects of racism on African American males. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 70(1), 33–41.

[24] Ndelu, S. (2017). “Liberation is a falsehood”: Fallism at the University of Cape Town. In M. Langa (Ed.), #Hashtag: An analysis of the #FeesMustFall Movement at South African Universities (pp. 58–82). Johannesburg: Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation.

[25] Penny Sparrow. (2016). Retrieved from SABC News Online: https://storify.com/sabcnewsonline/penny-sparrow

[26] Pijoos, I. (2018). Vicki Momberg denied bail, sentenced to three years in prison for racist rant. Retrieved from Mail & Guardian, March 28: https://mg.co.za/article/2018-03-28-vicki-momberg-sentenced-to-an-effective-2-years-in-prison-for-racist-rant

[27] Public[a]ction Collective. (2017). Publica[c]tion. Publica[c]tion Collective. https://studiostudiowork-work.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Publicaction_PDF-for-Web_pages.pdf

[28] Rhodes Must Fall. (2015). The Rhodes Must Fall mission statement read out at today's mass meeting and before the removal of the statue, 9 April 2015. Retrieved from Johannesburg Workshop on Theory and Criticism: http://jwtc.org.za/the_salon/volume_9/rmf_statements.htm

[29] Right2Know Campaign. (2016). Right2Know Campaign submission on the Prevention & Combating of Hate Crimes & Hate Speech Bill. Retrieved from Right2Know Campaign: http://www.r2k.org.za/wp-content/uploads/Right2Know-Campaign-Submission-on-the-draft-Prevention-Combating-of-Hate-Crimes-Hate-Speech-Bill.pdf

[30] Williams, D. & Williams-Morris, R. (2000). Racism and mental health: The African American experience. Ethnicity and Health, 4, 243.