ANC condemns anti-Muslim threats and calls for investigation
The ANC says threats against Muslim South Africans are a danger to the country and wants authorities to find out who is behind and funding them.
The African National Congress (ANC) has spoken out against a growing wave of hostility towards Muslims in South Africa, saying the threats put the safety of the country at risk, according to The Citizen.
ANC national spokesperson Mahlengi Bengu said on Thursday that the party was “deeply concerned” about the hateful language aimed at Muslims, both in person and online. She warned that violent threats against the community endanger national security and create tension with local government elections approaching.
False claims online
The Citizen reported that anti-Muslim posts online have often been mixed with extreme nationalist and anti-immigrant messaging. Some social media accounts have spread untrue claims that Muslims are trying to seize control of the country.
Bengu said an attack on someone because of their religion is an attack on the values that hold South Africa’s democracy together. The ANC also pointed to the part Muslims played in the fight against apartheid and in building the democracy that followed. It named Yusuf Dadoo, Moulvi Cachalia, Rahima Moosa, Imam Abdullah Haron, Fatima Meer, Ahmed Kathrada and Dullah Omar.
Call for an investigation
The party said it was alarmed by how organised and coordinated the hostility appeared to be. It argued that networks of bigotry are trying to bring division into the country, and said the state must establish who is behind them and who is paying for them.
The ANC urged law enforcement agencies to act against people who make threats. It also asked the South African Human Rights Commission and the Equality Courts to move quickly against hate speech and incitement.
Bengu stressed that the party’s stance was not limited to one faith. “The ANC rejects bigotry in all its forms,” she said, naming Muslims, Jews, Christians, Hindus and followers of African traditional religions. She also asked political and religious leaders not to use religious divisions to win support.
The ANC said it would keep working with Muslim organisations and other faith communities so that all South Africans can practise their religion freely and safely. “South Africa is home to all its people,” Bengu said.
What this means for readers
The statement is a call for action rather than an announcement of new measures. The source does not say whether police or other bodies have opened any investigation. The SAHRC and the Equality Courts are the institutions the ANC wants to take the lead on hate speech and incitement, so they are the bodies to watch for any response.
This story is based on reporting by The Citizen.
