High Court dismisses bid to halt Africa Evangelical Church conference

The High Court has dismissed an urgent application by Thabo Nhleko and Joseph Dlamini that sought to halt the Africa Evangelical Church’s (AEC) Workers and Delegates Business Session.

Justice Zonke Magagula ruled that the applicants failed to establish both the necessary legal standing (locus standi) and the required urgency for the matter. The court found that the applicants did not demonstrate how the conference's outcomes, including potential elections and binding decisions, would personally and directly affect them. The judge noted that their interests appeared to be the same as those of the general church membership rather than being peculiar to them.

Additionally, the court rejected the claim of urgency. While the applicants sought to prevent the August 26-27 conference, the respondents argued that the event is an annual occurrence and that notices had been issued to church branches as early as February. The applicants were ordered to pay the costs of the application.