News24 welcomes court ruling on Mpho Mafole reporting

The Gauteng High Court has dismissed with costs an urgent application by Theuwedi Trading Enterprise to gag News24 from publishing details of the murder of Mpho Mafole.

He was a forensic auditor at the City of Ekurhuleni Municipality who was gunned down just days after publishing a report on a R1.8-billion tender awarded to this company.

702 and CapeTalk's Mandy Wiener spoke to News24 Assistant Editor overseeing investigations, Pieter du Toit, who said the ruling is a victory for democracy and journalism.

"Judge Elmien du Plessis did find... that should a publication be ordered to remove any story that has already been published or should the publication be instructed by the courts to limit its reporting in future, it takes away the public's right to know."

Du Toit said that was central to the whole fracas.

"This is the second application relating to the murder of Mpho Mafole which we had to go and defend in the high court. The first one was by the Mayor of Ekurhuleni, Nkosindiphile Xhakaza, who also tried to force us to remove stories that we've already published. And also tried to ask the court to direct our future publications.

"So the court said that the public has a direct interest in reporting like this. The public has a direct interest to know and understand how public funds are used. And especially in a case like this where a forensic auditor in the form of Mpho Mafole identified alleged irregularity. The public has a right to be informed how that investigation is progressing.

"So, yes, I think it's a big win for the free press and the independent press that will not be bullied and intimidated by applications such as these."

To listen to the full discussion, click the media player above.