LFN v Minister of Agriculture, Mr. JH Steenhuisen (High Court, Gauteng Division, Pretoria — Case No. 2025-132845) – Initiated: 31 July 2025 – Lodged: 7 August 2025
Last Updated: 2 October 2025 (Previous Version: 8 August 2025)
On 31 July 2025, Liberty Fighters Network (LFN), represented by its President Reyno De Beer in his official capacity, instituted a formal review application in the High Court, Gauteng Division, Pretoria, against the Minister of Agriculture, Mr. John Henry Steenhuisen, in his official capacity.
This landmark public interest case challenges the Minister’s unilateral and non-transparent decision to authorise South Africa’s first-ever mass vaccination of poultry against the so-called highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) — a decision taken without public consultation, independent peer-reviewed safety data, or interdepartmental collaboration.
LFN contends that the decision constitutes unlawful administrative action in terms of the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act, 2000 (PAJA), and that the Minister’s failure to disclose the decision record, despite formal written requests in terms of section 5 of PAJA, violates the principles of transparency, accountability, and procedural fairness enshrined in the Constitution.
This challenge is of significant national importance, not only due to its potential impact on public health and food safety, but also in light of the ongoing fallout from the COVID-19 vaccine programme — three of the four vaccines registered during the pandemic have since been deregistered by SAHPRA, following ongoing litigation initiated by LFN since 2022.
LFN invites all concerned citizens, researchers, civil society actors, and media professionals to access the documents below and form their own views on the lawfulness of this controversial decision.
📄 Download the following Court Documents:
The Complete Application (see hereunder) includes:-
- Notice of Motion – 31 July 2025 (PDF)
- Founding Affidavit – 31 July 2025 (PDF)
- Annexure RDB1 – Government Permit Announcement
- Annexure RDB2 – Mass Vaccination Media Statement
- Annexure RDB3 – SAHPRA COVID-19 Vaccine Deregistrations
- Annexure RDB4 – LFN Letter to Minister (10 July 2025)
- Annexure RDB5 – Email to Minister (10 July 2025)
- Annexure RDB6 – Follow-up Email (21 July 2025)
Minister’s Notice of Intention to Oppose (18 September 2025)
Minister’s Rule 53 Record of the Decision (22 September 2025)
LFN’s Notice in terms of Rule 53(4) (2 October 2025)
LFN’s Supplementary Supporting Affidavit (2 October 2025)