'Spy journo' tells of threats

2003-10-21 10:15

Bloemfontein - Journalist Ranjeni Munusamy has been threatened if she reveals her sources for a newspaper report in which spying allegations surfaced against national director of public prosecutions Bulelani Ngcuka first surfaced, the Hefer Commission heard on Thursday.

Munusamy's advocate, John Campbell, told Judge Joos Hefer that his client received threats. Campbell asked the judge to excuse the subpoenaed Munusamy from giving evidence.

At the very least, her appearance before the commission should be postponed until all other sources had been exhausted.

Campbell's arguments were mainly based on the constitutional rights of a free press.

He said forcing Munusamy to testify placed her in the intolerable position of having to choose between a criminal record and prison on the one hand, and destruction of her professional reputation and betrayal of sources on the other.

Campbell denied that Munusamy had any direct first-hand knowledge of the issues the commission was investigating.

Hefer adjourned the proceedings for Campbell to prepare a sworn affidavit on the alleged threats.

- SAPA