LFN v Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Mr. V Hlabisa N.O. (High Court, Gauteng Division, Pretoria — Case No. 2025-149813) – Initiated: 27 Augustus 2025 – Lodged: 28 August 2025
Last Updated: 29 August 2025 (Previous Version: n/a)
On 28 August 2025, Liberty Fighters Network (LFN), led by its President Reyno De Beer, lodged a new application in the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria (Case No. 2025-149813) against the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Mr. Velenkosini Hlabisa.
This landmark application challenges the legality of the National State of Disaster (NSD) extensions during the COVID-19 period, arguing that:
🔑 Key Points of the Application
- NSD Lapsed on 14 June 2020
- In law, the State of Disaster declared on 15 March 2020 automatically lapsed on 14 June 2020.
- Every extension thereafter was miscalculated and therefore invalid.
- Invalid Extensions
- Government used incorrect dates when extending the NSD, violating the Disaster Management Act (DMA).
- The Constitutional Court’s definition of “month” confirms that the extensions were procedurally defective.
- Unlawful Measures
- All regulations, directions, mandates, and enforcement actions made under those extensions were unconstitutional and unlawful.
- Impact on South Africans
- Fundamental rights (dignity, equality, freedom of movement, trade, and bodily integrity) were violated.
- Roughly 300 individuals already registered with LFN report job dismissals, business losses, and coercion into vaccination.
- 3 of 4 COVID-19 vaccines registered in South Africa have since been deregistered — vindicating those who resisted coercion.
- Relief Sought
- A Court declaration that the NSD lapsed on 14 June 2020.
- The setting aside of all unlawful extensions and regulations.
- Certification of a class action for damages, or alternatively, establishment of a State-funded compensation scheme.
⚖️ Why It Matters
This case reopens South Africa’s lockdown debate and may pave the way for billions of rand in compensation claims. It also sets a precedent to ensure government power during crises stays within the rule of law.
👉 Download the full court application here: