MK Party interdict against SABC not urgent, court rules

Former President Jacob Zuma and the uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) political party’s challenge of the South African Broadcasting Corporation’s (SABC) use of the term “Government of National Unity” or “GNU” has been struck for want of urgency in the Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg.

The applicants, Zuma and the MK Party have further been directed to seek a special allocation.

#MKvsSABC : The Gauteng High Court in JHB is not satisfied that the MK’s challenge of the SABC’s use of the term “GNU” should be dealt with in the urgent court. The application is struck for “want of urgency” & applicants are directed to seek a special allocation #SABCNews pic.twitter.com/3yYv1vbZ4F

— Canny Maphanga (@CannyMaphanga) August 30, 2024

This follows a judgment by the Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg which revealed that the court was not satisfied that the matter can be dealt with on an urgent basis.

The High Court instead found that it should be dealt with as a special motion, where a Judge will have the time to consider the papers and submissions without the pressures of an urgent court.

The MK party and Zuma, in the urgent bid, asked the High Court, to amongst other things, declare the conduct of the SABC as unconstitutional and invalid alleging that it constitutes a breach of the public broadcaster’s independence and public mandate.

Zuma contends that what he terms as the “current arrangement in South Africa” as a result of “normal and ordinary democratic outcomes does not fit the definitional elements of a GNU” alleging that the use of the term “deliberately misleads the public”.

South Africa” as a result of “normal and ordinary democratic outcomes does not fit the definitional elements of a GNU” alleging that the use of the term “deliberately misleads the public”.