Louis Liebenberg at the launch of his political campaign for Parliament in Johannesburg in April 2024. (Gallo Images/Rapport/Elizabeth Sejake)
Diamond dealer and independent candidate for Parliament, Louis Liebenberg, has launched a court bid to compel Facebook to hand over the identities of users he says are making “false” and “defamatory” statements about him and his wife.
In an affidavit lodged in the Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg, Liebenberg said he needed the real identities of the users, so that he could stop them from posting lies. The urgent court bid was first reported by Netwerk24.
While Liebenberg, who launched his bid for Parliament two weeks ago, acknowledged he was a public figure who could expect criticism, he added that he and his wife should not be subject to “degrading and hateful attacks”.
South Africans need to be in the know if we want to create a prosperous future. News24 has kept the country informed for 25 years, and we’re about to enter a new chapter of fearless journalism. Join our free subscription trial to unlock this story and a world of news aimed to inform, empower, and inspire.