Judges explain why SABC cameras were allowed in court

That, according to a report in the Cape Times, was the substance of a judgment explanation given by a full Bench of the Cape High Court yesterday. The judges explained why they had granted an application by the SABC to film Mark Thatcher’s court battle to avoid being questioned by Equatorial Guinea in connection with a coup attempt in the oil-rich country. The application was granted in October last year, but, at the time, no reasons were given. Yesterday, full reasons for the granting of the application were handed down in a 57-page judgment. Judge Deon van Zyl agreed with the SABC’s argument that the right of the electronic media to exercise freedom of expression in covering court proceedings should be no less than that enjoyed by the print media. Full Cape Times report