Johannesburg - A number of politicians and civilians have criticised journalist Karyn Maughan for her role of exposing confidential medical information of former president Jacob Zuma with the help of state prosecutor advocate Billy Downer SC.
Some of the politicians and civilians yesterday said Maughan has crossed the journalism ethics code while others called the act criminal, disgusting, desperate, propagandist to name but a few.
The Jacob Zuma Foundation on Tuesday confirmed that Zuma had launched a private prosecution against Downer and Maughan and that they had been served with summons.
The foundation alleged that Downer leaked Zuma’s private medical information, and if found guilty, the accused can stand to face imprisonment of up to 15 years.
According to filed court papers, the first appearance of the two accused is scheduled for October 10, 2022 at the Pietermaritzburg High Court, KwaZulu-Natal.
Transformation Movement (ATM) leader Vuyo Zungula said the party is appalled in the first instance that a senior prosecutor like Downer could violate section 41(6), read with section 41(7) of the NPA Act,.
“The act expressly prohibits the disclosure of any information gathered in the course of investigations, yet Downer continues to be unremorseful,” Zungula said.
He did not hold back in calling Maughan, he said ATM wants the law to take its course.
“Maughan as the accused number two received proceeds of crime knowingly.The law must be blind and must take its course,” Zungula said.
UDM leader Bantu Holomisa said Zuma is right to demand justice.
“Has she not crossed the journalistic ethics code? Then Zuma is right to demand justice. These embedded journalists must be exposed for what they are They did this during apartheid. I experienced the same, fortunately I won against them in court after I sued them,” Holomisa said.
The Umkhonto weSizwe Military Veterans Association (MKMVA) spokesperson Carl Niehaus concurred with Holomisa,. He said he was happy that Zuma is going to take legal action against Maughan and Downer.
“Maughan has become notorious as a Stratcom agent distributing specific news and often fake news in order to pursue a particular agenda. In the instance of publishing Zuma’s medical records she contravened every single possible journalistic ethic.
“Downer contravened the most basic rules of how a representative of the legal representative should conduct himself. I hope that Maughan will now be exposed as the political player because she is one rather than a journalist,” Niehaus said.
Niehaus mocked Maughan and said she does not deserve to be associated with journalism.
“Maughan does not deserve to have a phrase journalist associated with her. She is a heck and a propagandist. Clearly Maughan and Downer made common courtesy with each other in order to continue this vendetta that is being run against Zuma and to continue to undermine his (Zuma) legal rights. This only confirms once again that Zuma stands no chance to have a free and fair trial in South Africa,” Niehaus said.
However, Cope did not agree with some politicians, the party described the move by Zuma as a delay tactic to stall the arms deal case.
“We want to condemn this action against a journalist for doing her work. We see this action as an act of intimidation and trying to silence the media. We don't see anything wrong done by Maughan, and we will support her always,” said Cope spokesperson Dennis Bloem.
Despite harsh criticism, the media house, organisations representing a number of journalists and editors called the move by Zuma as intimidation and violating media freedom.
The chairperson of SANEF, Sbu Ngalwa accused Zuma and his legal team of intimidation.
“This is an abuse and intimidation of a journalist that has broader implications, not just for Maughan but for other journalists out there.
“This means that if you cover court as journalists are doing as part of their role to inform the public, they can be dragged to court by a litigious applicant as Zuma is, in this particular case,” Ngalwa said.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) also declared its support for Downer.
Twitter users weighed in on the matter
Kgadi Mokoena tweeted: “Karyn Maughan and her supporters are trying to intimidate Jacob Zuma by calling him a bully. The real bully here is unethical journalists who resort to crime in order to push media propaganda. Karyn broke the law and she must go to jail! There are no ‘special criminals’.”
Cameron K Peters tweeted: “I am waiting for the day Karyn Maughan reveals the HIV status of an HIV-positive person in the name of ‘journalism’.
“I don’t care how terrible a person may be, exposing somebody’s medical information is an evil, vile thing to do. Integrity in SA journalism is now extinct.”
Dudu Zuma-Sombudla tweeted: “Criminally accused Maughan, looks to serve up to 15 years in prison when found guilty. This will be a lesson for “bo break the story first journalists.”
The Star