JOHANNESBURG – The South African National Editors’ Forum (Sanef) will present arguments in the High Court in Johannesburg on Tuesday, on why the Black First Land First (BLF) group and its leader Andile Mngxitama should be found in contempt of court. 

It comes after the court granted Sanef a protection order to Sanef and 11 journalists on July 7, interdicting BLF and Mngxitama from threatening, harassing and intimidating journalists, going to their homes, or threatening them on social media.

In June, BLF members protested outside the home of Tiso Blackstar editor at large, Peter Bruce and allegedly intimidated and harassed Business Day editor, Tim Cohen, and political commentator Karima Brown.

READ: Journalists ask court to convict BLF leader

The group also referred to Brown, Huffington Post South Africa editor-at-large, Ferial Haffajee, and Talk Radio 702 presenter Eusebius McKaiser as “askaris”.

On July 26, a group of BLF members appeared in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on charges of public violence and trespassing.

The next day, BLF members disrupted a discussion about state capture at an event hosted by the amaBhungane Centre for Investigative Journalism, in Braamfontein.

Sanef brought the urgent application for contempt after Mngxitama and BLF members tried to enter a Daily Maverick event, “The Gathering,” at the Cape Town International Convention Centre last week Thursday. Security guards stopped them.

BLF leader Andile Mngxitama has made an appearance at the #NandosDMGathering in Cape Town. Stopped by security. @News24 pic.twitter.com/3U58KUPw0m

— Paul Herman (@PaulHermanCPT) August 3, 2017

eNCA