PMB court grants urgent interdict against Laco, authorises police intervention

The KwaZulu-Natal High Court in Pietermaritzburg has granted an urgent interdict authorising police to immediately act against members of the Labour and Civic Organisation (Laco), the MK Party and other respondents accused of disrupting and intimidating businesses owned by KN Brand Properties CC, which operates the well-known Kara Nichas fast-food chain. The order, granted by Acting Judge Takchund on Friday, specifically protects the applicant’s listed business premises from unlawful entry, intimidation, disruption of operations, threats against staff and management, damage to property and other conduct linked to recent anti-illegal immigration protests. KN Brand Properties brought the urgent application against Laco, the MK Party, several named individuals and “all members/persons affiliated to or members of the first and/or second respondent”.

Kara Nichas is widely known in KwaZulu-Natal for its affordable meals, community outreach and philanthropic work. The court order authorises the SAPS, including the Public Order Policing unit, to arrest and detain respondents who violate the order. It specifically restrains the respondents and those acting under them from entering business premises, interfering with operations, intimidating or harming directors, managers, employees or customers, damaging property, inciting violence, publishing defamatory statements and sending threatening messages.

The sheriff of the court, assisted by SAPS if necessary, was authorised to serve the order immediately and “take all steps necessary to prevent the respondents from breaching this order in any manner and to give effect thereto by arresting, detaining and appropriately charging the respondents upon such occasions”. The interdict covers a list of Kara Nichas-linked premises across Pietermaritzburg and other areas. The ruling comes just days after Pietermaritzburg central police station acting commander Nerashie Laalmohan publicly urged businesses to obtain “compelling” mandatory interdicts specifically empowering police to intervene during disruptions.