ADVOCACY group Avaaz will have to wait a little bit longer to hear whether their controversial advertisement campaigning against the lion bone trade will be displayed again at Johannesburg's O.R Tambo International Airport.
Acting Judge Frank Bash yesterday reserved judgment in the matter where Avaaz and the Airports Company of SA (Acsa) are locked in a freedom of speech dispute, which the former launched after their posters were taken down from the airport in August last year.
The posters, showed President Jacob Zuma overseeing the hunt of a lioness. A large handgun was juxtaposed on the image, with the caption: "President Zuma can save her life".
The image has a message saying: "Our lions are being slaughtered to make bogus sex potions for Asia. Will President Zuma save them? Urge him to stop the deadly lion trade now".
Avaaz, which has 21 million members and approximately 326000 members in South Africa, had by September last year compiled around 700000 signatures against the lion bone trade.
The second part of their campaign involved sending Zuma , the minister of tourism and various other parties, letters urging the president to act.
Avaaz legal counsel, Advocate Steven Budlender, argued that Acsa - as an organ of state - breached the company's right to freedom of expression, as well as the act on administrative justice and the contract between Avaaz and Primedia, the company originally contracted to erect the advertisements in the airport lounge.
They claim the removal of the posters was politically motivated, as the advert would portray Zuma negatively.
In response , Advocate Anthony Sawma SC said Acsa acted as a private company and not as a state entity, adding that Acsa had the right to remove material that was deemed "objectionable".
Advert dispute rages on
ADVOCACY group Avaaz will have to wait a little bit longer to hear whether their controversial advertisement campaigning against the lion bone trade will be displayed again at Johannesburg's O.R Tambo International Airport.
Acting Judge Frank Bash yesterday reserved judgment in the matter where Avaaz and the Airports Company of SA (Acsa) are locked in a freedom of speech dispute, which the former launched after their posters were taken down from the airport in August last year.
The posters, showed President Jacob Zuma overseeing the hunt of a lioness. A large handgun was juxtaposed on the image, with the caption: "President Zuma can save her life".
The image has a message saying: "Our lions are being slaughtered to make bogus sex potions for Asia. Will President Zuma save them? Urge him to stop the deadly lion trade now".
Avaaz, which has 21 million members and approximately 326000 members in South Africa, had by September last year compiled around 700000 signatures against the lion bone trade.
The second part of their campaign involved sending Zuma , the minister of tourism and various other parties, letters urging the president to act.
Avaaz legal counsel, Advocate Steven Budlender, argued that Acsa - as an organ of state - breached the company's right to freedom of expression, as well as the act on administrative justice and the contract between Avaaz and Primedia, the company originally contracted to erect the advertisements in the airport lounge.
They claim the removal of the posters was politically motivated, as the advert would portray Zuma negatively.
In response , Advocate Anthony Sawma SC said Acsa acted as a private company and not as a state entity, adding that Acsa had the right to remove material that was deemed "objectionable".