MADLANGA J
[3]
The first question before us is whether RICA unreasonably and unjustifiably fails
to protect the right to privacy and is, therefore, unconstitutional to the extent of this
failure. The High Court of South Africa, Gauteng Division, Pretoria, answered this
question in the affirmative.8 It declared that in several respects RICA is deficient in
meeting the threshold required by section 36(1) of the Constitution to justify its
infringement of the right to privacy, particularly considering the interplay between the
privacy right and other constitutional rights protected in sections 16(1), 9 3410
and 35(5).11 More on these and other constitutional rights later. The declaration of
invalidity was suspended for two years to allow Parliament to cure the defects. The
High Court granted interim relief by reading-in certain provisions.12
8
Amabhungane Centre for Investigative Journalism NPC v Minister of Justice 2020 (1) SA 90 (GP).
9
Section 16(1) of the Constitution states:
“Everyone has the right to freedom of expression, which includes—
10
(a)
freedom of the press and other media;
(b)
freedom to receive or impart information or ideas;
(c)
freedom of artistic creativity; and
(d)
academic freedom and freedom of scientific research.”
Section 34 of the Constitution provides:
“Everyone has the right to have any dispute that can be resolved by the application of law
decided in a fair public hearing before a court or, where appropriate, another independent and
impartial tribunal or forum.”
11
Section 35(5) states:
“Evidence obtained in a manner that violates any right in the Bill of Rights must be excluded if
the admission of that evidence would render the trial unfair or otherwise be detrimental to the
administration of justice.”
12
In its entirety the order says:
“Order No 1:
It is declared that:
(a)
RICA, including sections 16(7), 17(6), 18(3)(a), 19(6), 20(6), 21(6) and 22(7) thereof,
is inconsistent with the Constitution and accordingly invalid to the extent that it fails
to prescribe procedure for notifying the subject of the interception;
(b)
The declaration of invalidity is suspended for two years to allow Parliament to cure the
defect; and
(c)
Pending the enactment of legislation to cure the defect, RICA shall be deemed to read
to include the following additional sections 16(11), (12) and (13):
‘(11)
The applicant that obtained the interception direction shall, within 90 days of
its expiry, notify in writing the person who was the subject of the interception
and shall certify to the designated Judge that the person has been so notified.
8