SAHRC welcomes SAJBD’s acceptance of apology following anti-semetic comments

MEDIA STATEMENT

Attention: Editors and Reporters

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has found against Mr Ziyaad Kayat following his anti-semetic comments in the social media.

In July 2014, Mr. Kayat sent a message to the inbox of the Facebook page of the South African Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD) that read “All Jews are pigs” and “I think we should kill you SA Jews and kill your kids and let you feel what the Palestinians are feeling.”

The SAJBD thereafter laid a complaint about this message with the SAHRC.

The SAHRC viewed the comments made by Mr. Kayat as a contravention of amongst other laws, Section 16 of the Constitution which prohibits expression that incites violence or advocates hatred based on religion or ethnicity and constitutes incitement to cause harm.

Following a number of engagements by the SAHRC with Mr. Kayat, on 26 September 2014, signed an unequivocal apology to the SAJBD, the SAHRC and the South African public.

In this apology, Mr. Kayat retracted the comments and acknowledged the comments were wrong and uncalled for. He expressed his commitment to the Constitution.

On 2 October 2014, the SAJBD expressed it acceptance with Mr. Kayat’s apology, which the SAHRC also accepts and welcomes.

The SAHRC urges the public to engage with social media in a responsible manner.

ENDS

Issued by the SA Human Rights Commission
Isaac Mangena
Head: Communications
071 884 8273