Media barred from publishing de Lille affidavit

The court ordered the media not publish details of de Lille's affidavit

The Cape Town Regional Court has ordered the media not to publish damning contents of an affidavit the leader of the Independent Democrats (ID) Patricia de Lille deposed to the Scorpions regarding her role in 'travelgate'.

The gagging order was granted following a request by Scorpion’s Prosecutor
Jannie van Vuuren during the travelgate case involving an ANC MP. However, ANC MP Mnyamezeli Booi has refused to cut a deal with the Scorpions. Others cut plea bargains with the Scorpions in exchange for a fine. Instead, Booi is fighting to clear his name. He is accusing the Scorpions of selective prosecution.

However, regional court magistrate Michelle Adams has ordered that the contents of de Lille's explosive affidavit to the Scorpions not be divulged. The order was made after a request by the Scorpions during a hearing to hear an application by Booi to have his trial postponed.

This week de Lille denied any involvement in e travelgate. Today she threatened to approach her lawyers to keep the lid on the explosive affidavit when she was contacted for comment.