Think Before You Post: Social Media and Defamation in Community Schemes

Social media has become a powerful platform for communication, connection, and community engagement. However, when misused, especially within the context of managing community schemes, it can lead to serious legal consequences. The recent High Court ruling of Francois Jurie Nicolaas Harman v Pieter Hendrik Strydom (285/2024) [2025]ZASCA 108 on social media defamation is a timely reminder that freedom of expression has boundaries, particularly when it infringes on the rights and reputations of others. 

In this article, we explore how easily property owners, tenants, trustees, and managing agents can fall into the trap of online defamation when attempting to expose alleged wrongdoing. Unfortunately, this often results in unintended legal trouble for the person posting.