Court dismisses Zuma's challenge against SABC's use of term 'government of national unity'
The former president sought to have the court invalidate the public broadcaster's use of the term.
FILE: The president of uMkhonto weSizwe Party Jacob Zuma during the party’s media briefing in Johannesburg on 22 August 2024. Picture: Jacques Nelles/Eyewitness News
JOHANNESBURG - The Gauteng High Court has dismissed with costs former President Jacob Zuma’s bid to invalidate the SABC's use of the term "government of national unity".
The former president and the uMkhonto weSizwe Party earlier this week argued that the public broadcaster was acting as an echo chamber for the government, which it called dangerous.
They also highlighted that millions of South Africans relied on the broadcaster as a primary source of information.
Gauteng High Court has dismissed former President, Jacob Zuma’s challenge against the SABC over the use of the term “GNU.” Court finds that it has no place in political debates & that no Constitutional rights have been implicated. Judge labels challenge “mischievous.”@ZOLEKV_Q pic.twitter.com/O7EMJocnQp
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) January 31, 2025
The applicants sought to invoke section 172 of the Constitution, which prescribes that a court must declare any conduct that is inconsistent with the Constitution, invalid.
They argued that the matter involved freedom of speech.
However, the court has found that the use of the term cannot be deemed objectionable or unlawful.
It added that it had no place in political debates.
The challenge was also found to be mischievous and outside of the court's jurisdiction.
It ruled that no constitutional rights were implicated in the matter and the claim under section 172 had failed.