(MISA/IFEX) – The weekly Sesotho-language tabloid “Setsomi Sa Litaba”, a sister publication of the weekly English-language newspaper “The Mirror”, faces possible closure due to a judgment that was passed against it in a civil defamation suit. The judgment in favour of the plaintiff, Makhostso Tlali, was passed by Justice Nthomeng Majara in the High Court […]
(MISA/IFEX) – The weekly Sesotho-language tabloid “Setsomi Sa Litaba”, a sister publication of the weekly English-language newspaper “The Mirror”, faces possible closure due to a judgment that was passed against it in a civil defamation suit.
The judgment in favour of the plaintiff, Makhostso Tlali, was passed by Justice Nthomeng Majara in the High Court of Lesotho on 3 November 2004. Justice Majara awarded the plaintiff Maloti 80,000 (approx. US$13,000). Tlali had originally sought Maloti 130,000 (approx. US$21,000) as compensation for alleged damages suffered due to being defamed by the publication.
In speaking with newspaper management, MISA-Lesotho ascertained that as a sister publication of “The Mirror”, “Setsomi Sa Litaba” is completely dependent on the resources of “The Mirror” for its production. By implication, “The Mirror” will suffer the financial burden of the court ruling.
“We are expecting closure at any time because even though the judgment is served to our sister publication, which does not have any equipment, since it is produced [with] equipment of ‘The Mirror’, surely the sheriff would want to know who the proprietor is, and in such a case, ultimately the onus would be on ‘The Mirror’. We do not have such funds. We are considering getting a second opinion on whether or not to appeal against the judgment,” sub-editor Tlali Caswell told MISA-Lesotho.
