Dawood Lagardien vowed that no one was going to stop him.
In July 2023, the owner of La Gardi store in Gqeberha (South Africa) hung a sign at the entrance: “The LGBTQ community is not welcome at La Gardi; save our children”. He didn’t stop there. He created an anti-LGBTQ+ WhatsApp group that attracted hundreds of members and declared that he would not allow LGBTQ+ people into his premises. He said they were being “forced on them”.
The names of three activists were circulated in that same group, along with threats that they would make them “meet their maker”. One of them, Sibonelo Ncanana-Trower, was so afraid that she booked accommodation in East London before traveling to the hearing. “Imagine fighting for your constitutional rights while fearing you might lose your life for doing so”, she said.
After more than three years of legal battles, the Equality Court rejected his religious defense and concluded that he acted with “a clear intention to cause harm and spread hatred”. Lagardien must pay 200.000 rands (about 12.000 dollars) to an organization that promotes equality, cover the legal costs, and issue a public apology. The case was also referred to the Prosecuting Authority for a criminal investigation.