Protection order abuse

'EGREGIOUS': USED TO GAG JOURNALISTS, ACTIVISTS, WHISTLE-BLOWERS

- Anton Harber

When journalist Bongani Hans of Independent Media received a protection order last week to stop him publishing allegations against a Durban solar energy company, it was the ninth recent case to enlist such an order to gag journalists, activists and whistleblowers.

Companies and state officials are increasingly abusing protection orders to try to stop journalists and activists from doing their work, cynically accusing them of harassment and invasion of privacy.

As well as the Hans case, the Campaign for Free Expression has recorded these others:

A few weeks ago, Limpopo freelance journalist Thomo Nkgadima was arrested, allegedly for breaching a protection order against him.

Nkgadima had been reporting on the building of a local hospital and the order came from those he was reporting on. When he appeared in court, there was no evidence that he had breached the order and the matter was dropped.

In February, News24's Karyn Maughan and Kelly Anderson faced a protection order from Mossel Bay magistrate Ezra Morrison following a report on the magistrate's handling of a murder case.

The two had to fly across the country to appear in court, but the matter was withdrawn.