DCEC takes Sunday Standard to court

Bame Piet | Friday June 27, 2014 17:23

 

In an urgent application through the Attorney General, DCEC seeks to interdict the newspaper and its editor Outsa Mokone or “any other persons who may have access through them from publishing, distributing or disseminating information, material, excerpts or any other contents of docket DOC/IF/2011/01166”.

The papers further say that the DCEC is seeking to order “The Respondents or any other persons having access through them to return to the Applicant all tapes, documents, material, information emanating from docket DOC/IF/IF/2011/0116 within 24 hours from the date of the order; that any opposing respondent to the application be ordered to pay costs of the application”.

In her affidavit, the Director of DCEC Rose Seretse states that by virtue of her position she has under her control and custody the file pertaining to the matter which she has familiarised herself with its content.

“In that regard, I am tasked with instructing and/or advising the Attorney General to institute , settle and/or defend legal proceedings concerning my office. In this instance I have briefed the Attorney General with instructions in this matter”.

Seretse states that the newspaper in its edition of June 22–28, 2014 carried a story with a headline “Inside the DCEC docket on Kgosi” on its front page, which was made of excerpts from the interview of Isaac Kgosi by Don MacKenzie who is a former DCEC employee. “I must indicate that the said extracts were quoted verbatim with no modifications”.

Furthermore, Seretse cites another story headlined “Kgosi fights back”.

“The DCEC is currently seized with the conduct of such investigation, which are still ongoing,” she says in her affidavit.

She argues that it is the responsibility of her office to protect its informants and their identities.

“During our investigations of alleged offences, we rely on the assistance of witnesses and until investigations are concluded, their statements or any information relating to the case are kept confidential”.

By late last night Chairperson of Media Institute for Southern Africa (MISA) Chapter Modise Maphanyane confirmed that they are getting legal advice on the matter, and would not comment.

“MISA is dealing with the case with our lawyers and we can’t comment at this stage,” he said.