The Citizen reports trade union Solidarity has filed a case of contempt of court against Black First Land First (BLF) after the organisation failed to apologise and pay compensation to the victims of the Hoërskool Driehoek bridge collapse in terms of a court order issued against it earlier this year.
Solidarity has also brought an application for warrants of execution against the BLF movement. In March this year the Equality Court in Johannesburg found BLF spokesperson Lindsay Maasdorp guilty of hate speech. Maasdorp had made several remarks on social media about the disaster that took place at Hoërskool Driehoek in Vanderbijl Park when a footbridge collapsed in February 2019 while pupils were making their way to class. At least three pupils were killed and about 20 others injured in the tragedy. BLF members said that the ‘death of three white children was divine intervention that got rid of three future problems.’ Maasdorp and the BLF were ordered to pay R50,000 to each of the victims’ parents, as well as apologise to the parents for their remarks. Anton van der Bijl, Head of Legal Matters at Solidarity, said that to date BLF had not complied with either order. “By showing contempt for this court order the BLF is not only undermining judicial authority, but they show no respect for the children who lost their lives, and they are adding to the suffering of the parents,” he indicated.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Faizel Patel at The Citizen
- Read Solidarity’s press statement in regard to this matter at Solidarity News
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