Today in history: SABC televises court proceedings
It was the first time that proceedings in a High Court civil matter would be televised
In a precedent-setting judgement, a full bench of the Cape High Court, comprising Judges Van Zyl, Essa Moosa and Dan Dlodlo, ruled in favour of the request of the South African Broadcasting Cooperation (SABC) to televise Mark Thatcher’s case.
It was the first time that proceedings in a High Court civil matter would be televised.
Thatcher had been implicated in a failed coup in Equatorial Guinea. He was to appear in court the following day to contest the validity of a subpoena compelling him to answer questions from prosecutors from that country. Thatcher’s lawyers, however, argued that the subpoena violated their client’s right to remain silent and that he would be prejudiced by the delayed broadcasting.
Information sourced from: South African History Online.
