Finance Minister Trevor Manuel has won a high court order to stop arms deal
activist Terry Crawford-Browne from publishing defamatory allegations about him.
Judge Andre le Grange ruled on Thursday that Crawford-Browne had not provided a
"shred of evidence" to support his claims in relation to Manuel and the
controversial arms deal.
Judge Le Grange said "a strong prima facie right to the court's protection had
been established" and ordered Crawford-Browne to desist from making further
defamatory allegations of corruption against Manuel, and to remove them from his
website.
"In my view freedom of expression does not include the right to falsely attack
the integrity of a fellow citizen for selfish reasons or for reasons which have
nothing to do with public benefit," the judge said.
After the judgment, Manuel said he would launch an application for a permanent
interdict within 20 days.
He felt "sad" about needing to resort to court action in this matter, because it
brought "a negative energy" that society did not need.
While Manuel's victory left him with an "overwhelming emotion" of sadness,
Crawford-Browne said he viewed the judgment against him as the "opportunity to
reopen the whole arms deal issue".
* This article was originally published on page 8 of The Cape Argus on March
07, 2008
With acknowledgements to Ella Smook and Cape Argus.
So Terry won after all.
But desist from calling this one corrupt, Terry, or you will go to jail.
In the meantime, just cling like a monkey on their backs.