The prosecution of incitement to genocide in South Africa

Abstract

The phenomenon of collective violence is complex and, as yet, not wholly understood. This notwithstanding, the incidence of collective violence is not entirely unpredictable. This is especially true of one particularly egregious form thereof, namely, genocide. Inflammatory speech, insidious propaganda and incitement to crime - all of which are directed at a specific group - are recurring hallmarks of the hatred that invariably precedes genocide. Just as sparks under certain conditions are more conducive to causing a fire, acts of communication that feed on, disseminate, and actively intensify pre-existing hatred towards a particular group often represent a precursor to as well as a powerful catalyst for genocide.