Maluzi Zondi/ Ezamancinza Inv. (Pty) Ltd vs News24
BEFORE THE APPEALS PANEL OF THE PRESS COUNCIL OF SOUTH AFRICA
In the matter between:
Maluzi Zondi First Complainant/Applicant
Ezamancinza Investments (Pty) Ltd Second Complainant/Applicant
and
News2 Respondent
Matter No: 000664/07/2026
DECISION ON AN APPLICATION FOR LEAVE TO APPEAL
- In his Ruling dated 8 July 2026, the Acting Press Ombud ruled that the complaint by Mr Maluzi Zondi (first complainant/applicant) and Ezamancinza Investments (Pty) Ltd (second complainant/applicant) could not, in terms of Section 1.7 of the Complaints Procedures of the Press Council, be accepted. The section provides that complaint proceedings shall be stopped where “at any stage of the proceedings it emerges that proceedings before court are pending on a matter related to be material complained about”.
- At all relevant times Mr Zondi acted on behalf of the second complainant as well. It appeared that when completing the complaint form, he indicated that there were no legal proceedings in the offing. Asked for clarity by the Public Advocate, his lawyers replied that they “confirm that no legal proceedings have been instituted by client on these merits”. The Acting Ombud nonetheless held the view that the complaint could not be accepted as the decision to institute legal proceedings had been made concrete in that a resolution of the second complainant was taken to take legal action, with Mr Zondi authorized and empowered to do so. A decision to prosecute the claim was taken, with Mr Zondi appointing lawyers to institute legal proceedings against the respondent on behalf of both complainants. The complainants are now seeking leave to appeal the Ruling by the Acting Ombud that the complaints be not accepted in light of Section 1.7 of the Complaints Procedures; they argue that there are no legal proceedings pending in respect of their complaint.
- I am satisfied that no legal proceedings have to date been instituted; therefore, there are no legal proceedings pending before court in respect of the complaint. I am also of the view that this is a matter that the Chair of Appeals can dispose of in terms of Section 7.1 of the Complaints Procedures, by upholding or dismissing the appeal; in the circumstances:
- the Ruling of the Acting Ombud dated 8 July 2026 is hereby set aside;
- the applicants’ complaint is referred back to the office of the Press Ombud to be accepted and processed by the Public Advocate in the normal way.
Dated this 17th day of August 2026
Judge B M Ngoepe, Chair, Appeals Panel
