Court dismisses Zuma’s bid to block SABC’s use of term “GNU”

The Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg has dismissed with costs the uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) Political Party and its leader, former President Jacob Zuma’s bid to invalidate the SABC’s use of the term “Government of National Unity” (GNU).

This comes after the MK Party and Zuma turned to the High Court, to amongst other things, declare the conduct of the SABC in using the said terms – as unconstitutional and invalid.

They alleged that it constitutes a breach of the public broadcaster’s independence and public mandate.

The applicants contended before the court that the public broadcaster’s use of the term constitutes a breach of the public broadcaster’s independence and public mandate.

In addition, the use of the said terms “deliberately misleads the public”.

The court, however, found, among other things, that it had no jurisdiction and that the legal challenge was not a constitutional matter – as the applicants contended.

In addition, the court further noted that the challenge is “so obviously without foundation that it is difficult to accept that it has been brought to further any real interest either of the applicants or more generally”.