THE SA Human Rights Commission has ruled that statements by a Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) official are hate speech, the South African Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD) said on Friday.

THE SA Human Rights Commission has ruled that statements by a Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) official are hate speech, the South African Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD) said on Friday.

The comments were made by Cosatu international officer Bongani Masuku, pictured, at the University of Witwatersrand in March.

"We applaud the Human Rights Commission," SAJBD chairman Zev Krengel said.

"It has sent out a message that the right to freedom of expression does not include a licence to indulge in hate speech and incitement to violence."

The commission asked Masuku to apologise to the SABJD or be referred to the equality court.

"The comments imply that the Jewish and Israeli community are to be despised," the commission found.

Cosatu spokesperson Patrick Craven said the union was consulting its lawyers and "until then we have no further comment".

According to the ruling, Masuku warned that SA families should not send their children to serve in the Israeli Defence Force. They must not blame us if something happens to them."

The commission found that these remarks were an incitement to violence.

"Cosatu members or Palestinian supporters at this rally could easily have been incited to hate, and even attack, their Jewish counterparts. This is inciting violence based on religion," the commission said.

The commission said Masuku had stated he had been responding to Jewish student hecklers.

The commission found that this was in fact evidence that Masuku's remarks were directed at Jews. - Sapa