Protection orders are being repurposed as gag orders across SA
Daily Maverick | 26.06.2026 06:02
Across the country, a disturbing pattern has emerged: powerful individuals, public officials and private entities are exploiting the Protection from Harassment Act 17 of 2011 (the Act) to silence reporters and disrupt investigations. The Campaign for Free Expression has documented at least nine recent cases in which protection orders or their functional equivalents have been used to gag or intimidate journalists, whistleblowers and activists.
