Charges against M&G journos should be dropped - Right2Know

Right2Know Statement: Withdraw charges against journalists and amend the NPA Act now

It is with grave concern that we learn today of the formal criminal charges placed on M&G journalists Sam Sole, Stefaans Brummer and Nic Dawes. The three have been charged under section 28 of the NPA Act for disclosing information obtained during a NPA/Scorpions investigation (see report). Through their investigations Brummer and Sole uncovered corrupt activities linked to the office of the presidential spokesperson Mr Mac Maharaj.

Since then Mr Maharaj has chosen to press criminal charges against them through the provisions of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Act. Section 41 of the NPA Act imposes a fine or a jail term of up to 15 years for disclosure of information gathered during an NPA investigation. Importantly, this particular provision of the law has no accompanying public interest defence.

No case more crucially highlights the practical justification for the demand made across civil society and progressive organisations for a full public interest defence to protect whistleblowers, researchers, community activists and journalists whose work is central to our right to know.

We therefore call on the President to demand an immediate withdrawal of charges against these journalists and to enlist an investigation into the claims made against his spokesperson Mr Maharaj. The NPA Act must be amended with immediate effect to include a public interest defence to protect journalists against prosecution for revealing what ordinary South Africans have a right to know. 

Statement issued by Mark Weinberg, Right2Know Campaign, July 27 2012

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Full support for Mac Maharaj! For all our sakes Mac Maharaj must press on and make sure that these three monsters face the full rigour of the law. People who tear down others just to show that they have the power to do so must never be allowed impunity. Let them . .more sit in jug as an example to others, so that we can do away with this vile scourge of "white right to lie". Thank you for your courage, Mac. Power! To the People! . .less by Domza on July 27 2012, 22:54 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Interesting handle you got there, Domza Dom Zuid-Afrika - or dumb you? by Cap'n Haddock on July 28 2012, 11:31 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@Domste And we ask why corruption is rife in SA? Peeps like Domza wants protection from the corruptees. Stupidity has no bounds by tokolosh on July 29 2012, 09:04 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

dom is as dom does! nuff said by cynical is good on July 29 2012, 15:50 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Nail them Mac must nail these bustards. No one is above the law, both Mac and the journalists. This right2know campaign is nothing but a bunch of anti govt liberals pursuing regime change. Why are they now quiet about the disasters at SABC. Because they are praying . .more for Pippa Green to steal the position of head of news through conniving with a std 8 conman who is corrupt? Rename yourself 'right2capture positions for white liberals corruptly' . .less by Joe on July 29 2012, 22:53 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

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