S v Mamabolo

S v Mamabolo is a case in which the Constitutional Court of South Africa dealt with the relationship between contempt of court and freedom of speech. The court held that a person could only be convicted of "scandalising the court" for a statement made outside of the court if that statement "really was likely to damage the administration of justice". The court also held that the procedure applied in the High Court for prosecution of the offence, whereby the judge could summon the accused, question him and summarily convict him of contempt, was an unjustifiable violation of the right to a fair trial.^[1][2]

S v Mamabolo
Court	Constitutional Court of South Africa
Full case name	The State v Russell Mamabolo
Decided	11 April 2001 (2001-04-11)
Citations	[2001] ZACC 17, 2001 (3) SA 409, 2001 (5) BCLR 449
Case history
Appealed from	Transvaal Provincial Division
Court membership
Judges sitting	Chaskalson P, Ackermann, Goldstone, Kriegler, Madala, Mokgoro, Ngcobo, Sachs & Yacoob JJ, Madlanga & Somyalo AJJ
Case opinions
Decision by	Kriegler

References

1. "The State v Russell Mamabolo: Media Summary" (PDF). Constitutional Court. 11 April 2001. Retrieved 7 June 2013.
2. "South Africa: S v. Mamabolo (e.tv and Others Intervening)". ARTICLE 19. Retrieved 7 June 2013.

External links

• Text of the judgment