The commission said it was alerted to concerning remarks made by Hofmeyr on social media relating to the LGBTIQ+ community in April.
THE SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has instituted legal action against Afrikaans singer Steve Hofmeyr over LGBTIQ+ remarks, requesting relief including the payment of R500,000 to an institution promoting LGBTIQ+ rights.
The commission said it was alerted to concerning remarks made by Hofmeyr on social media relating to the LGBTIQ+ community in April.
It says the social media post which referenced the “+”, referring to in the LGBTIQ+ abbreviation, says: “… Waar my generasie geleer het om met muise eende en honde te praat gaan ons kinders geleer word hoe om met muise, eende en honde seks te he… ” (Where my generation learnt to talk to mice ducks and dogs, our children are going to be taught how to have sex with mice, ducks and dogs).
The commission referred the matter to the Gqeberha High Court, sitting as an equality court earlier this month.
SAHRC commissioner André Gaum said the commission submitted to the court that Hofmeyr’s social media posts were concerning and amounted to hate speech as well as harassment.
“The relief we requested from the court includes an apology, posted on his social media accounts, community service and payment of half a million rands to an institution promoting LGBTIQ+ rights, as identified by the commission,” he said.
“We sent a letter of demand to him, and his response was inadequate.
“Although he posted an ‘apology’ on social media, the way he expressed it made things worse, in our view.
“We will argue this in court,” he said.
Hofmeyr did not respond to questions by deadline.
Cape Times
