Dispatch kicked out of Komgha court

Daily Dispatch reporter, Zwanga Mukhuthu was kicked out of the Komgha Magistrate's Court where the bail hearing of Tyityiba natural reserve owner, Karl Krull is under way.

Without giving reasons, magistrate Michelle Pillay first ordered the court orderly to confiscate and delete the reporter's audio recording of the proceedings, before ordering the Dispatch reporter to leave the courtroom.

Dispatch editor Sibusiso Ngalwa has condemned the magistrate’s action, saying it went against the principle of open justice

“There was no justification for the magistrate to eject our reporter from an open court, without reason.

“If she was unhappy with him recording the proceedings she could have told him to stop and then allowed him to continue doing his job.

“As the media we have a duty to report, for the public’s benefit, on the proceedings of the courts, in line with the age-old maxim that says, ‘Not only must justice be done; it must also be seen to be done’.

“We will lodge a complaint with the Magistrate’s Commission,” said Ngalwa.