Media24, Daily Maverick, amaBhungane and the Campaign for Free Expression have filed an urgent application in the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria to reopen the trial of two former State Security Agency officials to the public, Daily Maverick reports. Thulani Dlomo and Patrick Mshothola are accused of misappropriating R12 million of agency funds.
The applicants say a court order of 14 October, granted without hearing the media, allowed limited restrictions on evidence about agents, methods and classified papers, but has been applied as a total ban, with three days of proceedings apparently held in secret. A News24 reporter was refused entry on 16 October. They want open hearings restored as the default, with any party seeking secrecy on security grounds made to justify it for specific evidence. They have asked for the matter to be heard before the trial resumes.
Source: Daily Maverick
