(MISA/IFEX) – On March 7, 2007 the High Court of Swaziland dismissed a E750,000 (approx. US$100,000) lawsuit against the “Times of Swaziland” newspaper filed by the Minister for Education, Themba Msibi. The case was dismissed on grounds that the wrong parties were cited in the particulars of claim. Msibi, ex-Minister for Public Service and Information, […]
(MISA/IFEX) – On March 7, 2007 the High Court of Swaziland dismissed a E750,000 (approx. US$100,000) lawsuit against the “Times of Swaziland” newspaper filed by the Minister for Education, Themba Msibi. The case was dismissed on grounds that the wrong parties were cited in the particulars of claim.
Msibi, ex-Minister for Public Service and Information, was suing the “Times” for alleged defamation. This followed a commentary by the editor of the “Swazi News”, a weekend edition under the Times stable, published on November 24, 2004.
The Minister claimed in the court papers that the contents of the article defamed him; hence, his demand for E750,000 as compensation.
Acting Chief Justice, Jacobus Annandale, ruled that the wrong people were cited in the particulars of claim and therefore he dismissed the case with costs. In his papers the Minister had cited the Times of Swaziland (PTY) Ltd, the Managing Editor Martin Dlamini and African Echo, which owns the Times.
Upon learning that the wrong parties were cited, the Minister’s lawyer applied for the postponement of the case to enable them to amend their papers. However, the lawyer representing the Times objected. The judge then dismissed the case with costs.
The Minister’s attorney has said they will file new papers with the correct citations soon to proceed with their claim.
