Court grants Sanef interdict against BLF and its leader

The Black first Land First movement (BLF) has been ordered to stop intimidating, harassing, assaulting or threatening journalists. 

Handing down the judgement at the High Court in Johannesburg on 7 July, Judge Corrie van der Westhuizen said the BLF and its leader, Andile Mngxitama must stop acting in any manner that would constitute an infringement of the personal liberty of the journalists.

https://www.facebook.com/rkgazette/videos/1666368070062109/

Wonderful news! Mngxitama & group have been slapped with two separate court orders. One granted in favour of ABSA bank. Now one for #Sanef.

— Mpumelelo Mkhabela, PhD (@MMkhabel) July 7, 2017

The judge also said the BLF and Mngxitama are interdicted from making any threatening or intimidating gestures on social media, including on the website of Black First Land First and their individual Twitter pages that reference any violence, harm and threats.

Van der Westhuizen also ordered BLF and its leader to issue a public statement within 12 hours of the grant of the order to all Sanef members, explaining that they do not condone any of the above acts directed at journalists.

BLF and Mngxitama were also slapped with a costs order. Chaos ensued in the corridors of the court after the judgement was handed down. BLF members hurled insults at journalists and other politicians who came in support of the journalists.

The application to the court was brought by the South African National Editors Forum (Sanef). The forum approached the High Court in Johannesburg on an urgent basis, in a bid to interdict BLF members from harassing, intimidating and threatening journalists.

Sanef chairperson, Mahlatse Gallens pointed out that they approached the court following a protest outside the home of the editor at large at Tiso Blackstar (formerly Times Media) on 29 June. The BLF members held their protest outside Peter Bruce’s home in Parkview where they allegedly damaged his garage doors and also turned off his water meter.

During the same protest, BLF members allegedly assaulted veteran journalist and political commentator, Karima Brown, in full view of the police.

Brown and Business Day editor, Tim Cohen, were allegedly harassed and intimidated by BLF members as they rushed to the home of Bruce to support him after the story of the protest broke.
The BLF allegedly also threatened other journalists, stating that more protests will follow at their homes, including their places of worship.

https://www.facebook.com/rkgazette/videos/1666378013394448/

RELATED:

Sanef confident of a positive outcome in their court application