MBABANE: Zweli Martin Dlamini, the editor of this Swaziland News filed an affidavit this week opposing King Mswati’s court application that seeks to demand documents and other information.
The King and his Government had filed a Notice in Terms of Rule 35(12) demanding that the editor provides documents and other information cited in his affidavit deposed in the main application where the King is seeking an order directing the editor to give him ten(10) days before the publishing an article about him, his royal family and government.
“The protection of journalistic sources and information must remain paramount when giving effect to section 16(1) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996. To not do so, would result in sources, whistle-blowers and informants refraining from disclosing important information that is in the public interest. The applicant’s request in terms of Rule 35(12) aims to advance the applicant’s hidden agenda of gaining access to the first respondent’s sources and is not aimed at ventilating the issues in the main application. This is amplified by the fact that the applicant is to file a replying affidavit and cannot supplement it’s main application”, reads an affidavit filed by the editor in the High Court of South Africa.
King Mswati and his Government took the editor to court demanding that he gives them ten(10) days to respond before publishing any article about him, his royal family members and Government officials among others.
The editor is vigorously opposing the applicationy and is represented by Senior Advocate Myron Dewerance, Advocate Martin Hugo, Advocate Kerusha Pillay and lawyer Bukhosi Sibanda.
Mswati is represented by lawyers from Brian Kahn Inc.
King Mswati and Swaziland News editor Zweli Martin Dlamini.