NPA REFERRAL: Gqeberha businessman faces criminal investigation over anti-LGBTQIA+ conduct
An equality court has ordered Dawood Lagardien to pay R200,000 after finding that his conduct amounted to hate speech, unfair discrimination and harassment, and referred the matter to the National Prosecuting Authority for a criminal investigation.
Dawood Lagardien, a businessman from Gqeberha, is facing a referral to the National Prosecuting Authority for a criminal investigation after an Equality Court found his conduct to include hate speech, unfair discrimination and harassment. The court ordered Lagardien to pay R200,000 to an equality-promoting organisation, and he has four months to pay another R100,000.
The court ruled that Lagardien's display of a sign barring LGBTQIA+ individuals from his business, La Gardi Plastics & Baking Requirements, his management of an anti-LGBTQIA+ WhatsApp group, and his participation in hate speech constituted violations of the Equality Act. The South African Human Rights Commission had initially sought R500,000 in damages but agreed to the lower amount following the court's ruling.
Judge Bulelwa Pakati dismissed Lagardien's religious freedom defence, stating that his actions infringed upon the constitutional rights of the LGBTQIA+ community.
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