Le Roux and Others v Dey (Freedom of Expression Institute and Restorative Justice Centre as Amici Curiae)

• Jurisdiction: South Africa
• Citation: 2011 (3) SA 274 (CC)

Le Roux and Others v Dey (Freedom of Expression Institute and Restorative Justice Centre as Amici Curiae)
2011 (3) SA 274 (CC)

2011 (3) SA p274

Citation	2011 (3) SA 274 (CC)
Case No	CCT 45/10
Court	Constitutional Court
Judge	Ngcobo CJ, Moseneke DCJ, Cameron J, Froneman J, Khampepe J, Mogoeng J, Nkabinde J, Skewyiya J, Yacoob J and Brand AJ
Heard	August 26, 2010
Judgment	February 19, 2010
Counsel	G Marcus SC (with S Budlender) for the applicants.; JL van der Merwe SC (with J du Plessis) for the respondent.; AD Stein (with JJ Meiring and K McLean) for the first amicus curiae.; AM Skelton for the second amicus curiae.

Flynote : Sleutelwoorde B

Damages — Injuria — Defamation — Issue of damages in defamation case raising C constitutional issue.

Defamation — Action — Duplication — Same conduct should not render defendant liable to more than one actio iniuriarum.

Defamation — Elements — Defamatory statement or image — Probable impairment of right to reputation required before statement or image may be D considered defamatory.

Defamation — Animus injuriandi — Knowledge of wrongfulness — Unnecessary to enquire whether law still requiring this as part of animus injuriandi.

Defamation — Remedies — Apology — Court may order.

E Delict — Specific forms — Injuria — Infringement of dignitas — Claim entailing constitutional issues.

Delict — Specific forms — Injuria — Infringement of dignitas — Elements — Wrongfulness — Actionable injury cannot be based solely on ground of differentiation that Constitution has ruled does not provide basis for offence — Injury in such case need be located in further overlay or imputation.

Headnote : Kopnota

F A High Court found that the applicants had defamed the respondent and awarded damages to him, and this was affirmed by the Supreme Court of Appeal. In an appeal against this decision, the Constitutional Court held that:

The issue of damages in a defamation case raises a constitutional issue. So too, G a claim for injury to dignity entails constitutional issues. (Paragraphs [22], [33], [34] and [83] at 282E, 285D, 285G and 303H.)

It had been unnecessary for the Supreme Court of Appeal to have enquired whether the law should still require knowledge of wrongfulness as part of animus iniuriandi. Nor was it necessary for the Constitutional Court to do H so. (Paragraph [137] at 319E.)

The same conduct should not render a defendant liable by dint of more than one actio iniuriarum. (Paragraph [140] at 320B – C.)

The law requires probable impairment of the right to reputation before a statement or image may be considered defamatory. (Paragraphs [150], [169], [170], [173] at 322E, 327C – E and 328E – F.)

I An actionable injury cannot be based solely on a ground of differentiation that the Constitution has ruled does not provide a basis for offence. The injury in such a case would have to be located in some further overlay or imputation. (Paragraphs [150], [174], [184] and [186] at 322E, 329B, 331C – E and 331F – H.)

A court may order an apology for infringement of a personality right. (Paragraphs [150], [195], [197], [199], [202] and [203] at 322E, 333C, 333H, 334A, 335A – B and 336B – F.) J

2011 (3) SA p275

Cases Considered

Annotations: A

Reported cases

Southern Africa

Abahlali baseMjondolo Movement SA and Another v Premier of the Province of Kwazulu-Natal and Others 2010 (2) BCLR 99 (CC): referred to

Argus Printing and Publishing Co Ltd and Others v Esselen's Estate B 1994 (2) SA 1 (A) ([1994] 2 All SA 160): referred to

Argus Printing and Publishing Co Ltd v Inkatha Freedom Party 1992 (3) SA 579 (A): referred to

Basner v Trigger 1945 AD 22: referred to

Bato Star Fishing (Pty) Ltd v Minister of Environmental Affairs and Others 2004 (4) SA 490 (CC) (2004 (7) BCLR 687): referred to C

Botha en 'n Ander v Marais 1974 (1) SA 44 (A): referred to

Carmichele v Minister of Safety and Security and Another (Centre for Applied Legal Studies Intervening) 2001 (4) SA 938 (CC) (2002 (1) SACR 79; 2001 (10) BCLR 995): referred to

Centre for Child Law v Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development and Others 2009 (6) SA 632 (CC) (2009 (11) BCLR 1105): referred to D

Channing v South African Financial Gazette Ltd and Others 1966 (3) SA 470 (W): referred to

Conroy v Stewart Printing Co Ltd 1946 AD 1015: referred to

De Lange v Smuts NO and Others 1998 (3) SA 785 (CC) (1998 (7) BCLR 779): referred to

De Wet v Morris 1934 EDL 75: referred to E

Delange v Costa 1989 (2) SA 857 (A): dictum at 862A – I applied

Delta Motor Corporation (Pty) Ltd v Van der Merwe 2004 (6) SA 185 (SCA) ([2004] 4 All SA 365): referred to

Demmers v Wyllie and Others 1980 (1) SA 835 (A): dictum at 842A – C applied

Dikoko v Mokhatla 2006 (6) SA 235 (CC) (2007 (1) BCLR 1): dictum in para [92] approved F

Director of Public Prosecutions, Transvaal v Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, and Others 2009 (4) SA 222 (CC) (2009 (2) SACR 130; 2009 (7) BCLR 637): dictum in paras [71] – [80] applied

Ferreira v Levin NO and Others; Vryenhoek and Others v Powell NO and Others 1996 (1) SA 984 (CC) (1996 (1) BCLR 1): referred to G

Fourway Haulage SA (Pty) Ltd v SA National Roads Agency Ltd 2009 (2) SA 150 (SCA): referred to

G Q v Yedwa and Others 1996 (2) SA 437 (Tk): referred to

Gelb v Hawkins 1960 (3) SA 687 (A): dictum at 693H applied

Golding v Torch Printing and Publishing Co (Pty) Ltd and Others 1948 (3) SA 1067 (C): referred to H

Golding v Torch Printing and Publishing Co (Pty) Ltd and Others 1949 (4) SA 150 (C): referred to

Hardaker v Phillips 2005 (4) SA 515 (SCA): referred to

Hassen v Post Newspapers (Pty) Ltd and Others 1965 (3) SA 562 (W): referred to

Hix Networking Technologies v System Publishers (Pty) Ltd and Another 1997 (1) SA 391 (A) ([1996] 4 All SA 675): referred to I

Holdt v Meisel 1927 SWA 45: referred to

Holomisa v Argus Newspapers Ltd 1996 (2) SA 588 (W) (1996 (6) BCLR 836): referred to

HRH King Zwelithini of Kwa Zulu v Mervis and Another 1978 (2) SA 521 (W): referred to J

2011 (3) SA p276

Independent Newspapers Holdings Ltd and Others v Suliman [2004] 3 All SA 137 (SCA) (2005 (7) BCLR 641): referred to A

Investigating Directorate: Serious Economic Offences and Others v Hyundai Motor Distributors (Pty) Ltd and Others: In re Hyundai Motor Distributors (Pty) Ltd and Others v Smit NO and Others 2001 (1) SA 545 (CC) (2000 (2) SACR 349; 2000 (10) BCLR 1079): referred to

Johnson v Beckett and Another 1992 (1) SA 762 (A): referred to B

Jooste NO v Minister of Police and Another 1975 (1) SA 349 (E): referred to

Joubert and Others v Venter 1985 (1) SA 654 (A): referred to

Khumalo and Others v Holomisa 2002 (5) SA 401 (CC) (2002 (8) BCLR 771): dictum in para [18] applied

Kimpton v Rhodesian Newspapers Ltd 1924 AD 755: considered

Kritzinger v Perskorporasie van Suid-Afrika (Edms) Bpk en 'n Ander 1981 (2) SA 373 (O): referred to C

Laugh It Off Promotions CC v SAB International (Finance) BV t/a Sabmark International (Freedom of Expression Institute as Amicus Curiae) 2006 (1) SA 144 (CC) (2005 (8) BCLR 743): referred to

Le Roux and Others v Dey 2010 (4) SA 210 (SCA): confirmed on appeal

Lewison v Philips (1842) 3 Menz 37: applied D

Maisel v Van Naeren 1960 (4) SA 836 (C): referred to

Mangope v Asmal and Another 1997 (4) SA 277 (T): referred to

Marais v Groenewald en 'n Ander 2001 (1) SA 634 (T) ([2000] 2 All SA 578): referred to

Marruchi v Harris 1943 OPD 15: referred to E

Masch v Leask 1916 TPD 114: referred to

Mineworkers Investment Co (Pty) Ltd v Modibane 2002 (6) SA 512 (W): referred to

Minister of Safety and Security v Van Duivenboden 2002 (6) SA 431 (SCA) ([2002] 3 All SA 741): referred to

Minister of Welfare and Population Development v Fitzpatrick and Others 2000 (3) SA 422 (CC) (2000 (7) BCLR 713): referred to F

Mohamed and Another v Jassiem 1996 (1) SA 673 (A): dictum at 706H – 707A applied

Moise v Greater Germiston Transitional Local Council: Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Intervening (Women's Legal Centre as Amicus Curiae) 2001 (4) SA 491 (CC) (2001 (8) BCLR 765): referred to

Mthembi-Mahanyele v Mail & Guardian Ltd and Another 2004 (6) SA 329 (SCA) (2004 (11) BCLR 1182; [2004] 3 All SA 511): referred to G

Nasionale Pers Bpkt v Long 1930 AD 87: referred to

National Coalition for Gay and Lesbian Equality and Others v Minister of Home Affairs and Others 2000 (2) SA 1 (CC) (2000 (1) BCLR 39): referred to

National Director of Public Prosecutions and Another v Mohamed NO and Others 2003 (4) SA 1 (CC) (2003 (1) SACR 561; 2003 (5) BCLR 476): referred to H

National Media Ltd and Others v Bogoshi 1998 (4) SA 1196 (SCA) (1999 (1) BCLR 1; [1998] 4 All SA 347): referred to

NM and Others v Smith and Others (Freedom of Expression Institute as Amicus Curiae) I 2007 (5) SA 250 (CC) (2007 (7) BCLR 751): referred to

Peck v Katz 1957 (2) SA 567 (T): referred to

Phumelela Gaming and Leisure Ltd v Gründlingh and Others 2007 (6) SA 350 (CC) (2006 (8) BCLR 883): referred to

Pienaar and Another v Argus Printing and Publishing Co Ltd 1956 (4) SA 310 (W): referred to

Pitout v Rosenstein 1930 OPD 112: dictum at 117 applied J

2011 (3) SA p277

S v Basson 2007 (3) SA 582 (CC) (2007 (1) SACR 566; 2005 (12) BCLR 1192): referred to A

S v M (Centre for Child Law as Amicus Curiae) 2008 (3) SA 232 (CC) (2007 (2) SACR 539; 2007 (12) BCLR 1312): referred to

S v Mamabolo (E TV and Others Intervening) 2001 (3) SA 409 (CC) (2001 (1) SACR 686; 2001 (5) BCLR 449): referred to

SA Associated Newspapers Ltd en 'n Ander v Samuels 1980 (1) SA 24 (A): dictum at 30F – G applied B

Sachs v Werkerspers Uitgewersmaatskappy (Edms) Bpk 1952 (2) SA 261 (W): referred to

Sindani v Van der Merwe and Others 2002 (2) SA 32 (SCA) ([2002] 1 All SA 311): referred to

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