By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The SA National Editors’ Forum (Sanef) has condemned attempts by the Moti Group to prevent the publication of articles exposing businessman Zunaid Moti’s allegedly corrupt dealings.
The Moti Group, approached the Gauteng High Court to prevent the publication of new articles and force the journalists to return all the ‘leaked’ documents.
amaBhungane said Moti approached the court on Tuesday, without notifying the media group.
“The publication was not given any opportunity to be heard during this application,” it said.
“Investigative journalism would cease to exist if companies implicated in wrongdoing could simply get secret court orders demanding journalists return their documents – as the Moti Group has done,” said amaBhungane.
The court gave amaBhungane and its journalists 48 hours to return “leaked” documents belonging to the Moti Group. It also prevented the journalists from publishing any new articles based on the documents until October, when they could plead their case.
But Sanef believes the order violated journalists’ rights to report on matters of public interest.
“We believe the Moti Group sought to unreasonably gag further publication of any stories about their business, regardless of the public interest in their matters.
“The South African Constitution, among many rights it protects, recognises the upholding of freedom of expression and media freedom.”
Sanef added that the interdiction to stop amaBhungane from publishing any story also “tramples on the right of journalists to do their work, and the public’s right to know”.
It said it will closely monitor this matter, which cannot be left unchallenged because of the implications it may have on the work journalists do.
“The accusation by the Moti Group, that the said papers were illegally obtained, cannot be left unchallenged.”
amaBhungane said the Moti Group has been “scrambling to contain a leak of damaging information” since the end of last year.