AfriForum curfew challenge case not urgent, court rules

Afriforum wanted on Cogta minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma to provide evidence that the curfew contributed to the slowing of Covid-19 infections. File photo.
Afriforum wanted on Cogta minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma to provide evidence that the curfew contributed to the slowing of Covid-19 infections. File photo.
Image: GCIS

The high court in Pretoria on Tuesday struck off the roll an urgent application by AfriForum seeking an order declaring the night curfew unconstitutional.

The court found the application was not urgent.

AfriForum campaign manager Jacques Broodryk confirmed this in a post on Twitter.

AfriForum's view was the curfew — between midnight and 4am — and the six months criminal sanction that can be imposed for violating it were irrational, illegal and unconstitutional and should be reviewed and set aside.

In its heads of argument, AfriForum said it was not challenging the lockdown, the Disaster Management Act, nor the minister of co-operative governance and traditional affairs' reaction to the pandemic. It was merely challenging the curfew.

“The festive season is of paramount importance in the annual financial cycle of business along the coast. The curfew places a burden on them by restricting their trading hours. This is particularly severe for bars, taverns and nightclubs that would typically trade after 11pm,” the organisation argued.

TimesLIVE


subscribe

Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.

Speech Bubbles

Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.