New citizen movement takes aim at hate and harassment

A group of ordinary South Africans says it has reached a breaking point. Concerned by what they see as rising harassment, intimidation, and discrimination in public life, they have come together to launch Unmask Hate, a civic movement that aims to challenge hate in all its forms and encourage South Africans to speak out against it. 

The organisation officially launched in recent weeks after forming in April. Although some members are Jewish, the group says it is intentionally diverse and wants to demonstrate that concern about antisemitism and other forms of hatred extends well beyond the Jewish community. 

“We’re just normal South Africans,” spokesperson Angie Richardson told the SA Jewish Report. “We’re friends and people who are connected in different ways, and we all felt a bit tired of how far this campaign has actually gone. It’s gone far beyond protest and free speech.” 

She’s referring to opposition to Israel and the war in Gaza since 2023. Since the Hamas attacks on Israel on 7 October and the war that followed, South Africa has seen heightened activism, protests, and boycotts linked to the conflict. Supporters of Unmask Hate argue that some activism has crossed the line from political expression into intimidation, harassment, and discrimination. 

The organisation describes its mission as exposing and confronting hate while promoting respectful engagement and democratic values. It says South Africans have the right to hold differing political views, but that disagreement should never lead to harassment, threats, or the targeting of individuals because of their identity. 

Richardson says several members of the group have either experienced harassment themselves or witnessed it. “It’s fine to protest,” she says. “But when your protest is based on lies, that’s not okay.” 

The campaign against outdoor retailer Cape Union Mart has drawn the group’s attention. Activists have called for a boycott of the company because of allegations linking it to Israel. Cape Union Mart has denied the claims, and taken the matter to court. 

Richardson says the controversy was one of several developments that motivated members of Unmask Hate to become more active. “We’ve been watching the space and seeing the court papers, and seeing staff get harassed,” she says. “It’s enough.” 

According to Richardson, Unmask Hate members became increasingly concerned about employees and customers being caught up in a political dispute despite having no direct connection to events in the Middle East. “There are no links to Israel, no links to any of that, yet you’re going to boycott a company and put so many jobs at risk,” she says. 

The organisation argues that some tactics used by activists have created an atmosphere of fear and hostility. Richardson says Unmask Hate is particularly concerned by the use of inflammatory language, Nazi imagery, and direct confrontations with members of the public. 

She herself feels uneasy about visiting stores that are focal points of protests. “I’m nervous to go to a Cape Union Mart myself. I don’t want to be called a baby killer just because I walked into a Cape Union Mart. That’s just atrocious.” 

Although concerns about antisemitism helped shape Unmask Hate’s early activities, Richardson says the focus extends beyond issues affecting Jewish South Africans. The movement’s website states that hatred often spreads from one target group to another and that all forms of discrimination should be challenged. As a result, the organisation intends to address prejudice wherever it appears. 

Richardson points to xenophobia as an example. “Hate doesn’t really discriminate,” she says, insisting that South Africans should be concerned whenever individuals or communities are targeted because of who they are, regardless of whether they belong to the affected group themselves. 

But the organisation also hopes to show solidarity to Jewish South Africans who may feel isolated by rising hostility and public debate around the conflict in the Middle East. “A number of us aren’t from the Jewish community,” Richardson says. “We wanted to send a message to the Jewish community that there are South Africans who feel this has gone too far.” 

She believes many South Africans reject hatred and discrimination, even if they don’t always speak publicly about it. “We like to think the majority of South Africans are more on the side that this is not what this country is about,” she says. “Blatant hate and discrimination, that’s not who we are.” 

Unmask Hate aims to create opportunities for people to become involved through community engagement, advocacy initiatives, and awareness campaigns. The organisation encourages supporters to sign up online, join discussion groups, and participate in future activities. 

At this stage, the movement remains relatively new, but its founders believe there is a growing appetite among South Africans for a more active response to intolerance. Rather than positioning itself as a political organisation, Unmask Hate presents itself as a citizen-led initiative focused on defending democratic values and respectful public discourse 

As debates about the Middle East, identity, and social cohesion continue to play out across South Africa, Unmask Hate hopes its voice will encourage more people to challenge prejudice and speak out against harassment, regardless of who is being targeted.