Cyberbullying will not be tolerated, the Bloemfontein High Court said in upholding compensation for a hate speech victim.
Forwarding hate speech still constitutes publication and it promotes hate speech, the Bloemfontein High Court ruled in confirming an earlier order that a member of the Mangaung Metropolitan Council had to pay R50,000 compensation to the former speaker of the council.
Sibongile Tsoleli (appellant) who was a member of the mayoral committee of the municipality was earlier found guilty by the Equality Court of hate speech towards the former speaker, Stephanie Lockman-Naidoo (respondent).
She forwarded WhatsApp messages targeting her, her husband and the Indian community. The messages contained allegations of corruption, adultery and sexual relationships. Lockman-Naidoo successfully turned to the Equality Court claiming hate speech and racial discrimination.
Tsoleli, however, turned to the high court to appeal the findings against her. Apart from being ordered earlier to pay Lockman-Naidoo R50,000 in compensation, she was also ordered to issue her with a public and unconditional written apology and to apologise to the Mangaung Indian community.
