High court finds BLF, Mngxitama guilty of contempt of court

The Johannesburg High Court on Tuesday found Black First Land First (BLF) and its leader, Andile Mngxitama, guilty of contempt of a court order barring them from harassing and intimidating journalists.

This after the South African National Editors’ Forum (Sanef) approached the court last week on an urgent basis after BLF supporters attempted to enter a Daily Maverick event at the Cape Town International Convention Centre last week.

The forum wanted Mngxitama to be arrested and imprisoned for a period of three months immediately upon the high court granting the order of contempt of court. However, the sentence was suspended indefinitely, and Judge Sharise Weiner ruled that she would not impose a financial penalty.

The initial court interdict against BLF, handed down by Judge Corrie van der Westhuizen on July 7, prohibited Mngxitama and his organisation from intimidating and harassing journalists, including coming to the homes of journalists.

The interdict now extends to all journalists in the country, and should BLF breach the order, members of the organisation will be arrested immediately.

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