Detailed reports of criminal charges opened against billionaire Pastor Joe Singh and his business partner Peet Erasmus by Eskom, relating to alleged corruption amounting to a figure last revised at R6,2 billion, was the centre of a legal battle between the coal baron and the Middelburg Observer in which media freedom and media law were threatened.
Ultimately, the newspaper would claim a victory and last week the Middelburg High Court provided reasons for ruling in favour of the newspaper when the story first broke.
It referred to the application by Singh six months ago for an interdict restraining publication of allegations of corruption – but the court stated that it was common cause that criminal charges are being investigated against applicants arising from their business relationship with Eskom.
• See the full court document below.
