M&G gagged over SABC report

[Jacques]

20 July 2007 03:05
The Mail & Guardian has been gagged. Again. In the early hours of Friday morning in the Pretoria High Court, Judge Lettie Molopa interdicted the M&G from publishing the details of an explosive final draft of an internal report into alleged corruption, abuse of power and intimidation at the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC).

Full story here:
http://www.mg.co.za/articlePage.aspx?articleid=314453&area=/breaking_news/breaking_news__national/

 

[dominic]

"In the past 18 months, the M&G has faced six interdict attempts, three of them brought by the SABC."

your morning bowl of irony

 

[mancombseepgood]

Johannesburg - The Pretoria High Court on Thursday night interdicted the Mail and Guardian newspaper from publishing the details of an explosive draft internal report into alleged abuses of power and intimidation at the SABC.

According to Ferial Haffajee, the newspaper's editor, the interdict was brought by a senior staff member of the SABC who said that he had not been given adequate time to comment.

"The M&G respects the decision of the court," she said.

"We will request comment from him and publish once he has formulated his responses with adequate time."

She added that the staff member had interdicted the newspaper in his own capacity and not on behalf of the SABC.

I am quoting this for aunty gavin who has no bandwidth

 

[Sneeky]

The judge failed to respond to any of the arguments made by the M&G and instead focused on her belief that printing the story would destroy the reputation of Aaron’s client. She said: “No doubt once the article is published it will definitely destroy the applicant.” She said it was “just and equitable” to interdict the M&G.

So if a prominent individual or orginisation has allegedly done something that can ruin their reputation, why must the information be kept from the public to protect the person or orginisation in question?

 

[reech]

I wait with bated breath.

 

[fivelza]

hmmmm I wonder if it's not Mr Mpofu again

 

[chiskop]

My money's on Dr Zikalala. Though I think Mr Mpofu is a strong candidate too.

 

[Sneeky]

SABC gong from one bungle to the next, Political Commissar Zikalala is poison.

 

[Alan]

So if a prominent individual or orginisation has allegedly done something that can ruin their reputation, why must the information be kept from the public to protect the person or orginisation in question?

That logic seems endemic in Africa

 

[Xarog]

That logic seems endemic in Africa

And Germany.

 

[Jacques]

the Public Broadcaster must release that report!

it's the right thing to do!

 

[mancombseepgood]

it's the right thing to do!

What do they know about the right thing to do...?

 

[lion_fish]

That logic seems endemic in Africa

Africa is full of logic...just look around.

Africa must be te most logical place on earth.

 

[Boodles]

MG need to get some different lawyers...

 

[chiskop]

The SABC could also do with some new management.