# summary - Link: https://dearsouthafrica.co.za/conservation/summary/ - Published: 2023-10-01T15:11:10+02:00 - Author: dearSA _Advert_ _Advert – scroll down_ [ view the campaign](https://dearsouthafrica.co.za/conservation/) Report _not available yet._ Public comments as delivered to parliament ⌊Loader⌉ Loading... ⌊EAD Logo⌉ Taking too long? ⌊Reload⌉ Reload document | [ ⌊Open⌉ Open in new tab ](https://cdn.dearsouthafrica.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/02104913/conservation.pdf) [Download [144.41 KB] ](https://cdn.dearsouthafrica.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/02104913/conservation.pdf) ### STATEMENTS FROM CIVIL ORGANISATIONS Click on a logo to view. Want to display your organisation’s statement? [Click here. ](https://dearsouthafrica.co.za/conservation/summary/ rhino@dearsouthafrica.co.za?subject=org info for Conservation info page) Close ### Freedom of Religion SA (FOR SA) TEMPLATE PROVIDED BY FOR SA ### I strongly oppose the Prevention and Combating of Hate Crimes and Hate Speech Bill [B9B – 2018], which I believe to be unconstitutional and unnecessary, for the following reasons: 1. The Bill violates our constitutional rights as religious persons to express our religious beliefs without fear of punishment or persecution (section 15, read with section 16). Increasingly, around the world but also in South Africa, various holy scriptures (particularly on contentious issues) are regarded as “politically incorrect” or “offensive”, allegedly causing emotional and/or social harm. 2. I specifically oppose the Bill’s: 3. a. wide definition of “harm” (in Clause 1); b. the failure to define “hatred” (in Clause 1); and c. definition of, and creation of, the crime of “hate speech” (in Clause 4). 4. The creation of the crime of “hate speech” for saying / distributing something which could possibly be construed as “harmful”, will have certain unintended consequences, namely the criminalisation of good / well-meaning people who will be prosecuted for saying what they sincerely believe (according to their holy texts) and sent to jail. 5. There are already sufficient existing laws dealing with “hate speech”. 6. For all of the reasons given, I ask: 7. a. For the scrapping of the “hate speech” sections from the Bill altogether; b. Alternatively, should the “hate speech” provisions remain part of the Bill, we ask: c. a. That “harm” be defined as: “gross emotional and psychological detriment that objectively and severely undermines the human dignity of the targeted group”; and b. That “hatred” be defined as: “strong and deeply-felt emotions of enmity, ill- will, detestation, malevolence and vilification against members of an identifiable group, that implies that members of that group are to be despised, scorned, denied respect and subjected to ill-treatment based on their group affiliation”. d. That Clause 4(2)(d) (the “religious exemption clause”) be strengthened as follows to protect: _“expression of any religious conviction, tenet, belief, teaching, doctrine or writings, by a religious organisation or an individual, in public or in private, to the extent that such expression does not actively support, instigate, exhort, or call for extreme detestation, vilification, enmity, ill-will and malevolence that constitutes incitement to cause gross emotional and psychological harm that severely undermines the dignity of the targeted group, based on race, ethnicity, gender, religion or sexual orientation”._ ### In the Media * CityPress — [Government calls for input on wildlife conservation policy](https://www.news24.com/citypress/news/government-calls-for-input-on-wildlife-conservation-policy-20230925) * Citizen — [Planning to domesticate a rhino or lion? You might want to know about these policy changes](https://www.citizen.co.za/news/south-africa/domesticate-conservation-rhino-lion-elephant/) * Daily Maverick — [Government opens public comments on policy to end captive lion breeding](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2023-09-26-government-opens-public-comments-on-policy-to-end-captive-lion-breeding/) A Ministerial Task Team LEAD BY Kamalasen “Kam” Chetty will be urgently looking into ending the captive lion breeding in South Africa. This comes amid growing international and local pressure to end the practice they call cruel and barbaric. Environmental Minister Barbara Creecy appointed the task team to review policies, legislation and practices on matters related to handling and management, breeding, hunting and trade of elephants, lions, leopards and rhinoceros. Joining us to discuss this issue further is the Chairperson of the task team Kamalasen Chetty. Watch WRSA’s full 30-minute conversation with DSTV’s “In Gesprek met Lourensa Eckard” about the Ministerial Lion Task Team. Notice ⌊Loader⌉ Loading... ⌊EAD Logo⌉ Taking too long? ⌊Reload⌉ Reload document | [ ⌊Open⌉ Open in new tab ](https://cdn.dearsouthafrica.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/01145148/notice-from-230919draftpolicyconservationsustainableuseofelephantlionleopardrhinoceros-2.pdf) [Download [60.36 KB] ](https://cdn.dearsouthafrica.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/01145148/notice-from-230919draftpolicyconservationsustainableuseofelephantlionleopardrhinoceros-2.pdf) The Policy Position ⌊Loader⌉ Loading... ⌊EAD Logo⌉ Taking too long? ⌊Reload⌉ Reload document | [ ⌊Open⌉ Open in new tab ](https://cdn.dearsouthafrica.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/01145222/230919draftpolicyconservationsustainableuseofelephantlionleopardrhinoceros.pdf) [Download [779.46 KB] ](https://cdn.dearsouthafrica.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/01145222/230919draftpolicyconservationsustainableuseofelephantlionleopardrhinoceros.pdf) Executive Summary ⌊Loader⌉ Loading... ⌊EAD Logo⌉ Taking too long? ⌊Reload⌉ Reload document | [ ⌊Open⌉ Open in new tab ](https://cdn.dearsouthafrica.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/01143936/summary-from-230919draftpolicyconservationsustainableuseofelephantlionleopardrhinoceros.pdf) [Download [187.43 KB] ](https://cdn.dearsouthafrica.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/01143936/summary-from-230919draftpolicyconservationsustainableuseofelephantlionleopardrhinoceros.pdf) Encourage Participation – distribute this notice ⌊Loader⌉ Loading... ⌊EAD Logo⌉ Taking too long? ⌊Reload⌉ Reload document | [ ⌊Open⌉ Open in new tab ](https://cdn.dearsouthafrica.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/01155912/conservation-QR-poster.pdf) [Download [152.09 KB] ](https://cdn.dearsouthafrica.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/01155912/conservation-QR-poster.pdf)