Following failure in its bid to be joined as a co-respondent or as friend of the court in an application brought by the Attorney General (AG) against Tsodilo Services (PTY) Ltd trading as Sunday Standard, and its editor, Outsa Mokone, the National Amalgamated Local and Central Government & Parastatal Workers Union (NALCGPWU) has vowed to disseminate any information on corruption they get their hand on.
AG filed an urgent application seeking an interdict to be issued restraining Sunday Standard and/or any persons who may have access to Docket DOC|IF|2011|01166 from publishing, distributing or disseminating information, material, excerpts or any of its contents.
NALCGPWU Secretary Johnson Motshwarakgole said they were shocked by the judge’s pronouncement that the Union had no sufficient reasons to be joined in the application as they were not sent by anyone to expose corruption. “We have been fighting corruption since 1970, it is part of the reason why workers won’t get increments while a few individuals enrich themselves through public funds. How can a union with 45, 000 members be sidelined from the case?” he asked.
Motshwarakgole further said they will share whatever information about corruption they come across, through media and other means adding their members are used by those at the top, something he said does not reflect well on the Union which is totally against corruption.
Last week the Union, through its Facebook page shared excerpts alleged to be from Director General of the Directorate of Intelligence and Security, Isaac Kgosi investigation docket by the DCEC.
In its quest to be joined, the Union stated that it intends to bring to court information to demonstrate that the said docket that AG wants returned has long been shelved and is gathering dust. Furthermore, the Union wished to be given an opportunity to demonstrate that there is no public interest objective to be served by concealing the investigation, which is the subject matter on the main application.
Judge Leburu said the Union does not have the necessary legal interest to be joined as a co-respondent as they do not have direct interest in the matter.
“In the final analysis, the Union’s pathway to joinder is littered with several legal pitfalls and mine-fields. The Union has thus failed to demonstrate that its participation in the proceedings as friend of the court will help the court unravel and solve issues on media freedom,” he said.