MBABANE: Judge Bonginkhosi Magagula has ordered the Swazi Observer to stop scandalizing Dede Management Consultancy, the forensic investigation company probing allegations of corruption within the Royal Science and Technology Park(RSTP) where SwaziPharm Director Kareem Ashraff was allegedly looting millions of public funds through fraudulent tenders.
The judgement delivered on Tuesday, comes after Ashraff allegedly used the Swazi Observer to scandalize and discredit all the forensic companies investigating corruption as contracted by Government particularly, where the allegations link the SwaziPharm Director.
Funduzi Forensic Services, the company that investigated the disappearance of billions within the Ministry of Health, resulting to the shortage of drugs in public hospitals, has been a subject of slanderous articles by the Swazi Observer and Judge Magagula noted that in the process, journalism ethics are being violated by Mbingo and the Swazi Observer.
The Judge issued the order after the Observer, upon realizing that, Information, Communications and Technology(ICT) Minister Savannah Maziya has appointed Dede Management Consultancy to investigate corruption within the Technology Park, targeted Chief Investigator Advocate Jeanette Neveling saying she was arrested for alleged shoplifting.
“The Respondents are interdicted and/or restrained from publishing or republishing any material against the Applicant without affording the latter the opportunity to comment on same in line with the ethics of journalism. It is ordered that within 72 hours of the date of this Order, the Respondents are ordered to permanently remove the articles dated 9th and 16th February 2025 from the 1s Respondent's website and/or in any other online platform on which the articles were published.It is ordered that within 72 hours of this Order, the Respondents are directed to publish a retraction of the two articles dated the 9th and February 2025 and issue an apology for the harm caused to the business reputation of the Applicant. The 1s Respondent is ordered to pay the costs of their application at the ordinary scale,” reads the court order in part.
The court further noted that, the publication is also scandalizing Funduzi Forensic Services,Robison Bertram lawyer Derrick Jele was presenting Dede Management Consultancy.
BREAKING NEWS:Judge orders editor Mbongeni Mbingo to stop violating journalism ethics and scandalize Dede Management Consultancy, forensic company probing SwaziPharm Director Kareem Ashraff’s alleged corruption at Royal Science and Technology Park(RSTP).