Farmer loses SCA battle after harmful Facebook posts about lawyer following R3 million debt
The Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) has dismissed an appeal from an aggrieved farmer, Francois Harman, who had taken to Facebook to post disparaging and inflammatory remarks against Pretoria attorney Pieter Strydom.
Strydom, who acts as an insolvency practitioner, was representing the Land and Agricultural Development Bank of South Africa (Land Bank) in its legal proceedings against Harman for outstanding debts.
The Land Bank and Unigro Financial Services advance loans to farmers and whenever a farmer falls in default of payment, the organisations would instruct Strydom to initiate legal proceedings to recover the debt.
The legal dispute began when Harman and his company, Redlex, secured a loan from the Land Bank but fell into arrears, ultimately leading to a lawsuit for over R4.3 million. After Redlex was liquidated in July 2019, the Land Bank, represented by Strydom, secured a judgment against Harman in May 2020 for more than R3 million plus interest.
Frustrated by the judgment and the financial toll it had taken on him, Harman resorted to social media to express his anger. His Facebook posts targeted Strydom and other officials at the Land Bank, accusing them of unethical behaviour and acting impartially.
In response to his alarming online conduct, Strydom sought a protection order against Harman, which prohibited him from further harassment or verbal abuse through electronic communication. The order was obtained in Harman's absence.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Citizen
15 hours ago
- The Citizen
3 suspected poachers caught with rhino horn in KZN
Three suspected rhino poachers, aged between 34 and 50, were arrested in Paulpietersburg, KZN, on Saturday, with two unlicensed rifles and a rhino horn in their possession. Zululand Observer reports that the Zululand Police Cluster spokesperson, Captain Nkosie Gwala, said three men wearing masks entered a game reserve and accosted two security guards. After tying them up, they robbed them of a shotgun, an R5 assault rifle and their cellphones. 'It is alleged that the trio proceeded to shoot a rhino and remove its horn. While busy with their criminal activity, they were distracted by an alarm that had been activated. They fled the scene, leaving the shotgun next to the rhino carcass.' Gwala added that police responded, but discovered the suspects had fled the game reserve. 'Police and private security personnel worked tirelessly throughout the day looking for the suspects. With assistance from community members, they were eventually arrested as they took refuge in the bush.' They will appear in Vryheid Magistrate's Court on charges of armed robbery, rhino poaching and possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition. Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. Read original story on
The South African
15 hours ago
- The South African
Limpopo man arrested for alleged R1.3 million Ford Raptor fraud
The Hawks have arrested a 27-year-old man from Limpopo for allegedly using fraudulent documents to purchase a top-of-the-range Ford Ranger Raptor worth over R1.3 million. The Hawks' Serious Commercial Crime Investigation Unit, in collaboration with the Sekhukhune Tracing Team, apprehended the suspect in Groblersdal. Authorities are withholding his name until he appears in court. According to Hawks spokesperson Warrant Officer Lethunya Mmuroa, the suspect submitted a motor vehicle finance application to WesBank in April 2023. 'He allegedly attached a forged bank statement and a fake employer payslip to support the application,' said Mmuroa. WesBank approved the application, and the suspect was contacted by the dealership in Polokwane to collect the vehicle. He arrived at the dealership accompanied by two other men, who are also under investigation. After collecting the vehicle, the suspect failed to meet his monthly payment obligations. WesBank's attempts to reach him were unsuccessful. A forensic audit later revealed that the documentation submitted during the finance application was fraudulent. The bank reported the matter to the Hawks' Serious Commercial Crime Investigation Unit in Polokwane. In January 2024, investigators arrested a man who allegedly helped the suspect obtain and collect the vehicle. 'The investigation confirmed that the 27-year-old suspect worked with others to defraud WesBank and secure the Ford Ranger Raptor,' said Mmuroa. The suspect is expected to appear before the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court in Polokwane on 28 July 2025. Limpopo Hawks provincial head, Major General Gopz Govender, welcomed the arrest and praised the ongoing efforts to combat financial crime. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The Citizen
15 hours ago
- The Citizen
Certificates of excellence celebrate Douglasdale police dismantling of housebreaking ring
Two housebreaking suspects, behind a spate of break-ins in the Dainfern area, are now behind bars, and it is all thanks to the tireless efforts of police officers from Douglasdale SAPS. This victory has been formally recognised with certificates of excellence awarded to key members of the team. Brigadier Veeshani Arikum, station commander at Douglasdale Police Station, confirmed that the breakthrough was the result of a strong collaboration between law enforcement and private security companies. 'Back in 2021, we noticed a sharp rise in housebreakings around Dainfern. Through co-ordinated efforts with local security companies, we managed to identify two suspects, and within a week of intensified operations, we had the first suspect in custody.' She said the initial arrest was of a man who had been transporting one of the suspects. 'A search of his vehicle uncovered stolen property, leading to his conviction. He was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment and will be deported after serving his term.' Also read: Support and sobering crime stats welcome new district police commissioner Arikum said the second, more prolific, suspect, was arrested in October 2022. She said he later pleaded guilty to over 30 counts of housebreaking, and was also handed a 15-year sentence, declared unfit to possess a firearm, and marked for deportation once his sentence is complete. The officers involved in the case were honoured with certificates acknowledging their role in dismantling the housebreaking syndicate. Among those recognised was Sergeant Charity Maswanganyi, who expressed pride in the achievement. 'I'm very happy about the certificate. It shows that I'm making an impact, but it's not just me, this success came from teamwork. With support from Arikum and the Fourways community, we brought criminals to justice. It proves that when the community works with us, we can do so much more.' Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration!
