Absa granted urgent interdict against BLF
Absa has been granted an urgent interdict by the High Court against the Black First Land First movement (BLF).
This follows several incidents where BLF members unlawfully entered Absa branches and intimidated customers and staff during protests in June.
The interim interdict prevents BLF members from damaging and destroying Absa's property.
It also prevents BLF and its members from threatening violence or intimidating customers and staff during protest.
The South Gauteng High Court has given BLF until 15 August to show cause, if any, why an order should not be made final.
In an affidavit, Absa CEO Marius de la Rey said BLF members carried out a series of protests actions at Absa branches and offices in the week of 21 June, and in particular on 28 June at about 12 Absa branches.
"I am advised that BLF's unlawful conduct leading up to and on 28 June 2017, BLF's repeated threats to shut down Absa after 5 July 2017, BLF's refusal to provide any undertakings whatsoever, and BLF's contemptuous, militant and aggressive response to Absa's lawyer's letter requesting undertakings, show that without the court's intervention there is a real and material likelihood that BLF will commit violence against staff and customers of Absa, damage its property and otherwise act unlawfully," reads De la Rey's affidavit.
BLF has vowed to shut down Absa until the more that R1 billion, which was paid to Absa's predecessor Bankorp during the apartheid era, is paid back.
Judgement is also expected in the South African National Editor's Forum in their application for an interdict against BLF, who has threatened journalists for reporting on corruption and state capture.