We don’t trust white judge, says BLF leader
BLACK First Land First (BLF) said their fate was in the hands of a white judge, who they did not trust.
“At 12 o’clock tomorrow, a white judge, who like all white people, comes from a framework of thinking which puts whiteness first, we don’t have any trust in any white person,” BLF leader Andile Mngxitama said while addressing the media outside the high court in Joburg.
The court had earlier heard an urgent application by the South African National Editors’ Forum (Sanef) and several journalists to interdict BLF from harassing, intimidating, assaulting or threatening journalists, especially those reporting on state capture.
Mngxitama went on to lash out at various media houses, including Naspers, as well as former finance minister Pravin Gordhan, calling him a “house negro”.
Earlier, Judge Corrie van der Westhuizen said he was satisfied with the application that was brought forward by Sanef and that the matter had to be heard with urgency. Judgment in the matter was expected today.
During proceedings, advocate Thembeka Ngcukaitobi, for Sanef, requested that Judge Van der Westhuizen make an order interdicting BLF from intimidating journalists; that BLF retract all threatening statements made on social media; and that it pay the legal costs.
BLF members were heard laughing when Ngcukaitobi made the request.
Commenting on the matter, Sanef chairperson Mahlatse Gallens said: “We are appreciative of today and are expecting the judge to rule on the merits of the case.
“We are here because we want to uphold the law. What we have seen is harassment of our journalists and basically trying to silence them from doing the work that is protected by the constitution of this country.”
There was nothing wrong with protesting, as it was part of the country’s democracy and was allowed by law, Gallens added. “If you want to protest, you must go to the police and ask for permission, but going to people’s houses and assaulting journalists is a criminal offence,” she said in response to Mngxitama saying the BLF would continue protesting.
“What we want the BLF and the court to do is say that their protests cannot be violent.” – ANA