CITIZENS SA on Tuesday launched an initiative aimed ensuring South Africans regulate themselves on social media, expressing concern that the rise of social media has allowed racist exchange to reach intolerable levels.
The idea behind the initiative was that it was not owned by anybody except the citizens of SA, South African Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD) president Zev Krengel said at a Citizens SA breakfast in Johannesburg.
The initiative should serve as a "a citizens’ code for compatriots courtesy", Mr Krengel said. It was aimed at addressing the global rise of social media that was straining political and social bonds within countries, he said.
This year began with a torrent of racial-based exchange and debate on social media — prompted by former estate agent Penny Sparrow’s racial comments in which she described black people as "monkeys". Meanwhile, a Gauteng government employee faces disciplinary action after calling for the industrial extermination of white people.
Mr Krengel said it was doubtful SA would have survived the turbulent transition from apartheid if Facebook and Twitter had existed during that time, adding that greater self-regulation and commitment to SA’s Constitution was needed.
The aim of the initiative is to spread the code through social media, leading to individuals committing themselves to respecting dignity in a positive sense — in line with constitutional guarantees — while continuing to debate.
Citizens SA is a participation-based group advocating positive citizenship. It was launched in 2013 by Bobby Godsell and Dr James Motlatsi — who serve as co-chairs. Mr Godsell, a former businessman, and Dr Motlatsi, a nonexecutive director of the Shanduka group launched an active citizen charter aimed galvanising SA into positive socioeconomic participation.
Dr Motlatsi said South Africans needed to focus on the positive aspects of South African society and how these could be strengthened, saying SA had a habit of focusing on negative issues.
Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi said that the formation of such an activist group was almost "prophetic" given the developments in SA’s discourse. Individual South Africans had a responsibility to use their knowledge of their individual spheres, such as business or politics, to advocate positive citizenship, he said.
Picture: BLOOMBERG
CITIZENS SA on Tuesday launched an initiative aimed ensuring South Africans regulate themselves on social media, expressing concern that the rise of social media has allowed racist exchange to reach intolerable levels.
The idea behind the initiative was that it was not owned by anybody except the citizens of SA, South African Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD) president Zev Krengel said at a Citizens SA breakfast in Johannesburg.
The initiative should serve as a "a citizens’ code for compatriots courtesy", Mr Krengel said. It was aimed at addressing the global rise of social media that was straining political and social bonds within countries, he said.
This year began with a torrent of racial-based exchange and debate on social media — prompted by former estate agent Penny Sparrow’s racial comments in which she described black people as "monkeys". Meanwhile, a Gauteng government employee faces disciplinary action after calling for the industrial extermination of white people.
Mr Krengel said it was doubtful SA would have survived the turbulent transition from apartheid if Facebook and Twitter had existed during that time, adding that greater self-regulation and commitment to SA’s Constitution was needed.
The aim of the initiative is to spread the code through social media, leading to individuals committing themselves to respecting dignity in a positive sense — in line with constitutional guarantees — while continuing to debate.
Citizens SA is a participation-based group advocating positive citizenship. It was launched in 2013 by Bobby Godsell and Dr James Motlatsi — who serve as co-chairs. Mr Godsell, a former businessman, and Dr Motlatsi, a nonexecutive director of the Shanduka group launched an active citizen charter aimed galvanising SA into positive socioeconomic participation.
Dr Motlatsi said South Africans needed to focus on the positive aspects of South African society and how these could be strengthened, saying SA had a habit of focusing on negative issues.
Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi said that the formation of such an activist group was almost "prophetic" given the developments in SA’s discourse. Individual South Africans had a responsibility to use their knowledge of their individual spheres, such as business or politics, to advocate positive citizenship, he said.
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