The Free State Division of the High Court in Bloemfontein has granted the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) an interdict and apology order against Patricia Morgan-Mashale following a defamation case heard on 18 June.
Judge N.S. Daniso declared Morgan-Mashale’s Facebook posts to be defamatory, unlawful and false, finding they were intended to injure and violate the National Director of Public Prosecutions’ right to dignity.
The court order interdicts Morgan-Mashale from posting, spreading, publishing or making known to the public any comment or information on social media platforms or newspapers relating to the matter. She must immediately delete the original Facebook publications and publish a formal apology to the NDPP, affected NPA prosecutors and officials on her Facebook page within seven days.
The apology must remain visible for 60 days. Morgan-Mashale has also been ordered to pay the costs of the application.
The case stems from publications Morgan-Mashale made on her Facebook account in 2025, in which she accused the Director of Public Prosecutions for the Free State Division and officials of corruption. She alleged they received bribes in the form of various payments relating to a particular case.
Morgan-Mashale is a self proclaimed whistle-blower and human rights defender.
The NPA’s Office for Ethics and Accountability allocated an investigator to examine the evidence Morgan-Mashale claimed to possess. However, she failed to provide proof of her allegations despite repeated requests.
The NPA’s Legal Affairs Division issued a cease-and-desist letter through the State Attorney, calling on her to refrain from making spurious allegations against the DPP and prosecutors. When Morgan-Mashale ignored the letter, the NPA launched court proceedings.
National Director of Public Prosecutions Andy Mothibi said whilst the authority appreciates the right to freedom of expression, that right carries with it a responsibility to respect the rights of others to dignity.
“We will not hesitate to use every legally permissible avenue to protect our prosecutors who are committed to the pursuit of the rule of law and proper administration of justice,” Mothibi said.
The NPA’s Communication Unit will monitor Morgan-Mashale’s social media pages to ensure compliance with the court order.
Legal experts say the case serves as a reminder that social media users can face serious consequences for making unsubstantiated defamatory statements online. The judgment reinforces that freedom of expression does not extend to publishing false allegations that damage the dignity and reputation of individuals or institutions.
ALSO READ: Rape: Police seek suspect who targets women via Facebook
