Pending action by Naspers not yet final

CAPE TOWN: The convener of the Alternative Media Forum in Cape Town, David Robert Lewis, says the forum has received legal opinion from the Cape Town Legal Resource Centre, and according to them: " the threat of an interdict by Naspers is precisely that, a threat that has no legal substance until actually served by a court of law."

"After a first hearing there should be a second hearing in which the interdict on the controversial pamphlet released at the recent Cape Town Book Fair (and now being reproduced on campus) is made final". The main thing here is to avoid panic and the situation where the audi rule is ignored, people are detained and there is no access to a fair hearing. South Africa's legal system is still recovering from years of systematic abuse of the rule of law. "For years our civil rights have been ignored, and I don't see why this time is going to be any different," says Lewis.

Media24 have via their attorney's indicated that they intend interdicting Lewis in his private capacity and suing for defamation unless he supplies "a written undertaking on or before close of business on Monday 3 July 2006 confirming (he) will not distribute any further pamphlets or make any similar remarks concerning our client ". The Alternative Media Forum has no intention of responding in writing since the lawyers letter was only delivered on July 18, and rejects the action taken by Media24 with contempt.

Lewis says: "as convener of the Alternative Media Forum -- an NGO which has shown solidarity with the Anti-War Movement, he is "exploring various avenues in order to issue a counter-action and/or claim against the company for damages as a result of their action to deny civil rights and liberties in this regard."

A further statement regarding this proposed action will be issued once the legal issues become clearer.