LSSA strongly condemns disturbing personal attacks on the NPA head, Adv Shamila Batohi and on the judiciary
11 September 2019
The Law Society of South Africa (LSSA) once again reiterates its previous condemnation against any attack on the judiciary. Social media has been overflowing with claims, backed by a purported ‘list’, claiming that certain judges and people had allegedly been paid various amounts by President Cyril Ramaphosa's CR17 campaign fund.
We strongly condemn the disturbing personal attack on the National Director of Public Prosecutions, Adv Shamila Batohi. The rumours circulating online that Ms Batohi was paid R1,750,000 by the fund are unnecessary and devoid of any merit.
‘The social media posts resort to a new strategy of casting aspersions through peddling fake news against the judiciary and the NPA. A malicious and dangerous strategy which is now being used is to identify and discredit some judges, the NPA head and all those who act without fear, favour or prejudice, says LSSA President Mvuzo Notyesi.
He adds: ‘We believe that the recent fake news purporting itself as information from the sealed bank statement of the CR17 campaign are unwarranted attacks which appear to have the sole aim of undermining the judiciary and the NPA and therefore cannot be in the interest of society.