Johannesburg – A notice that read “LGBTQ Unwelcome in Lagardi – Save Our Children” has landed Dawood Lagardien, owner of Gqeberha's shop in hot water with the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC).
In a statement made available to Bruche over the weekend, SAHRC announced that it had “enacted legal proceedings under the promotion of the Unfair Anti-Discrimination Act against Dawood Lagardien in 2000.”
SAHRC said the issue stems from signs that appear outside the business premises of respondents.
The issue first surfaced last year when Eastern Cape residents and organizations fided a notice written in chalk from the board outside the shop.
SAHRC said the notice was intended to exclude lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual + (LGBTQ+) members.
“In addition, respondents have established and actively managed a WhatsApp group entitled “Our Rights – Anti-LGBTQ+” containing statements and materials that appear to cause harm to individuals identified as LGBTQ+ and related communities,” SAHRC said.
“Following the evaluation of the complaint, the Commission concluded that the allegations in the suit by Dawood Lagardien constitute hate speech and/or harassment as considered in terms of promoting Sections 10 and 11 of the Promotion of Equality and Prevention of the Unfair Discrimination Act of 2000 (Pepuda or Equality Act).”
SAHRC said the hearing is scheduled for the East London High Court and will be sitting as the Equality Court on Monday, May 26th, 2025.
