(FXI/IFEX) – The inquest court hearing on the death of gang leader Rashaad Staggie in Cape Town was postponed yesterday to October 29, following requests by media lawyers to have time to contest the validity of subpoenas. On August 18, it was reported that the editors of “The Cape Times”, “The Cape Argus”, “Die Burger”, […]
(FXI/IFEX) – The inquest court hearing on the death of gang leader Rashaad
Staggie in Cape Town was postponed yesterday to October 29, following
requests by media lawyers to have time to contest the validity of subpoenas.
On August 18, it was reported that the editors of “The Cape Times”, “The
Cape Argus”, “Die Burger”, “SA Press Association”, “Associated Press”,
Reuters News Agency and SABC TV were served with subpoenas to hand over to
the court photographs, video footage and transcripts pertaining to meetings,
gatherings and demonstrations of Pagad before the public killing of Staggie,
as well as of events on the night of August 6 1996. The court also demanded
that the media reveal the names of the photographers responsible for the
video and photographs, and the journalists who conducted the interviews. One
of the lawyers told the court that evidence would be led at the resumed
hearing pertaining to the freedom of the press. Meanwhile, magistrate JH
Venter gave warning to the media to refrain from any form of reporting that
would pre-empt the findings of the inquest. The magistrate also reminded the
media of the penalty for violations of the Inquest Act – a fine of R2 000 or
six months imprisonment or both.
On August 30, Reuters said that it was prepared to fight for its rights in
the Constitutional Court. It indicated that the refusal was in conformity
with its worldwide practice of refusing to disclose confidential sources and
to furnish the police or courts with information obtained by its journalists
while carrying out their duties in gathering news in the public interest.
However, a subpoena issued to SA Press Association (Sapa) was withdrawn
earlier
after Sapa informed the court that it had no visual or other material which
might help in the inquest.
