A Gqeberha shop owner now faces a R500 000 fine – and maybe jail – over his no-gays sign..
- The Human Rights Commission wants a Gqeberha shop owner to be prosecuted and pay damages for alleged discrimination against the LGBTQIA+ community.
- The commission approached the Equality Court to ask for criminal prosecution against Dawood Lagardien.
- Lagardien admitted to erecting an anti-gay sign outside his shop.
The Gqeberha shop owner who admitted to erecting a sign outside his establishment banning gay, lesbian and transgender people from entering, is facing possible jail time and a R500 000 fine.
Dawood Lagardien, owner of La Gardi Plastics and Baking Requirements, caused an uproar when he put up the sign outside the shop in Parkside.
Although claiming that he did not hate gay people, Lagardien said members of the LGBTQIA+ community were not welcome inside his shop.
He was also very vocal regarding his disapproval of the lifestyles of this community.
Lagardien may also be asked to render a public apology and be interdicted from further alleged discrimination, depending on the decision of the Equality Court.
This comes after the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) started investigating complaints from the LGTBQIA+ community and the public when he put up the sign.
Lagardien allegedly also created a WhatsApp group, titled Our rights, anti-LGBTQ on 16 July.
The SAHRC subsequently approached the Equality Court in Gqeberha last month and an affidavit was sent to Lagardien last week containing details of the allegations of discrimination, hate speech and harassment made against him.
According to the affidavit, compiled by André Gaum, a representative of the SAHRC, Lagardien’s alleged conduct has violated the rights of the LGBTQIA+ community.
