Politician ordered to pay R50,000 damages after defending a WhatsApp message she forwarded to a group

• A South African politician, Sibongile Tsoleli, has been ordered to pay R50,000 damages after defending a WhatsApp message she forwarded to a group containing hate speech.
• The WhatsApp message, sent in March 2022, contained discriminatory remarks against Indians and was deemed to constitute hate speech, harassment, and unfair discrimination by the Equality Court.
• Tsoleli has been ordered to furnish an unconditional apology, attend a South African Race Sensitisation Programme, and pay R50,000 in compensation within 30 days, with the court reaffirming that the messages qualify as harassment.