Men who were publicly ridiculed on a controversial Facebook page which shone the spotlight on alleged deadbeat fathers can sue or even open crimen injuria charges against those who participated in shaming them on social media, said Justice Department spokesman Mthunzi Mhaga yesterday.
A popular social media page “Izinja Ezingondliyo” loosely translated “Dogs who don’t look after their children”, has sparked mixed reactions among South Africans.
Faces of men who have allegedly neglected their fatherly duties by not paying maintenance support or visiting their offspring were splashed on the Facebook page, which within a week of being created had 113813 followers by yesterday.
Their personal details have also been posted on the Facebook page. Men reacted by creating their Facebook post – Reasons Why Singondli (Reasons why we don’t look after our children).
Among the excuses made by alleged deadbeat fathers was that some of the women allegedly use their child maintenance money to “beautify themselves” or “drink the money away” – leaving the child struggling.
Reasons Why Singondli had 48272 followers by yesterday.
But Mhaga told Saturday Dispatch it was illegal to degrade a person publicly.
“When you are degrading the dignity and reputation of a person, that constitutes a criminal case and a civil claim can also ensue for that,” he said.
Children’s rights were also sometimes trampled on as some of the posts violated the Children’s Act by naming minors.
But Masimanye Women Support Group spokeswoman Lesley-Ann Foster, who said lack of support from men was a form of violence against women, also slammed the justice system for allegedly not supporting women enough.
“Men are reneging on their responsibility ... Part of what we need to do is revisit the laws to make sure men take 50% responsibility,” she said.
“It is not helpful for women to address the challenge in the public domain,” she said, adding that everyone should “always operate within the ambits of the law”.
FULL STORY: Online shaming breaks law: Accusers can be sued or charged
A popular social media page “Izinja Ezingondliyo” loosely translated “Dogs who don’t look after their children”, has sparked mixed reactions among South Africans.
Faces of men who have allegedly neglected their fatherly duties by not paying maintenance support or visiting their offspring were splashed on the Facebook page, which within a week of being created had 113813 followers by yesterday.
Their personal details have also been posted on the Facebook page. Men reacted by creating their Facebook post – Reasons Why Singondli (Reasons why we don’t look after our children).
Among the excuses made by alleged deadbeat fathers was that some of the women allegedly use their child maintenance money to “beautify themselves” or “drink the money away” – leaving the child struggling.
Reasons Why Singondli had 48272 followers by yesterday.
But Mhaga told Saturday Dispatch it was illegal to degrade a person publicly.
“When you are degrading the dignity and reputation of a person, that constitutes a criminal case and a civil claim can also ensue for that,” he said.
Children’s rights were also sometimes trampled on as some of the posts violated the Children’s Act by naming minors.
But Masimanye Women Support Group spokeswoman Lesley-Ann Foster, who said lack of support from men was a form of violence against women, also slammed the justice system for allegedly not supporting women enough.
“Men are reneging on their responsibility ... Part of what we need to do is revisit the laws to make sure men take 50% responsibility,” she said.
“It is not helpful for women to address the challenge in the public domain,” she said, adding that everyone should “always operate within the ambits of the law”.
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