Don't Get Sued
Every day in South Africa, podcasters, influencers, and content creators publish content that could land them in court — and most of them have no idea.
The law doesn't care about your follower count. If you publish, you're a publisher. And publishers can be sued.
Don't Get Sued is a 5-book series written by an investigative journalist with over 20 years of experience. No legal jargon. No textbook theory. Just the plain-English answers you need to protect yourself, your content, and your livelihood.
Five books. Everything you need to publish without getting sued.
Don't Get Sued
Defamation is the single biggest legal risk you face as a content creator. One false statement about the wrong person can cost you hundreds of thousands of rands. Learn the three elements of defamation, the landmark Bogoshi defence, why "allegedly" won't protect you, and how the right of reply is your best legal shield.
What You Can and Can't Say Online
POPIA is South Africa's privacy law — and it applies to you. If you've ever posted a WhatsApp screenshot, shared a voice note, or published someone's personal details, you need this book. Covers the POPIA framework, the Section 26 journalism exemption, publishing private communications safely, and practical compliance steps.
Covering Courts and Using Content Legally
Court cases make great content — but the legal restrictions can land you in criminal trouble. And every image, music clip, and article quote you use without permission is a copyright risk. Covers sub judice, automatic reporting restrictions, live-tweeting from court, fair dealing, and protecting your own content from theft.
Interviewing Public Figures
What happens when your podcast guest accuses someone of fraud on air? You're liable — even though you didn't say it. Covers South Africa's one-party consent law, the difference between recording and publishing, what to do when a guest makes defamatory claims, responding to cease-and-desist letters, and finding a media lawyer.
The Creator's Legal Toolkit
The complete reference guide. Ten questions to ask before every post, a verification workflow, a digital record-keeping system, every template from the series, a legislation-at-a-glance table, and a full directory of legal, media freedom, and training resources. This is the book you print and keep next to your microphone.
The Complete Don't Get Sued Bundle
All 5 books in one download. Defamation, privacy, court reporting, copyright, interviews, legal threats, checklists, templates, and resources. 73 pages total.
Three steps. PDF delivered to your inbox.
Make an EFT payment
Pay via EFT (Internet Banking) to the account details below. Use "Don't Get Sued" as your reference.
Email your proof of payment
Send a copy of your EFT confirmation (screenshot or PDF) to the email below. Tell us which book or bundle you paid for.
✉ editorial@publicdispatch.co.zaReceive your PDFs within 24 hours
Once payment is confirmed (usually the same day for EFT), your PDF book or bundle will be emailed to you. Start reading immediately.
Download Chapter 1 of Book 1
Not sure if this series is for you? Read the introduction and Chapter 1 of Book 1. It covers the basics of defamation law — the single biggest legal risk for content creators in South Africa — including the three elements of defamation and the landmark Bogoshi defence.
📄 Download Free Sample (PDF)Frequently Asked
Why is this so cheaply priced?
This is launch pricing, running until 30 September 2026. The goal is to get these resources into creators' hands, build a community of readers, and gather feedback. From 1 October 2026, individual books rise to R149 and the bundle to R499. If you buy now, you own what you bought forever — the price increase only affects future buyers.
Who is this series for?
Podcasters, YouTubers, TikTokers, Instagram creators, bloggers, citizen journalists, and anyone publishing content about other people online in South Africa. If you publish — in any format — these laws apply to you.
Do I need legal training to understand it?
No. The whole series is written in plain English. No jargon. No textbook theory. Every legal concept is explained with practical examples from real content creators.
Is this legal advice?
No. These books are educational resources. They help you understand the legal landscape and reduce your risk, but they don't replace advice from a qualified attorney for your specific situation. The series includes a directory of media lawyers you can consult.
What format are the books in?
All books are delivered as PDFs. You can read them on any device — phone, tablet, laptop — or print them. Books 1 and 4 include ready-to-use templates you can adapt for your own content.
Does this only apply to South African creators?
The series focuses on South African law (defamation, POPIA, court reporting, recording law). The underlying principles apply in many jurisdictions, but the specific rules, defences, and case law referenced are South African.
How do I buy the books?
Pay via EFT to our FNB account (details in the How to Order section above), then email your proof of payment to editorial@publicdispatch.co.za. Your PDF is delivered to your inbox within 24 hours of payment confirmation — usually the same day. Files are DRM-free, so you can read them on any device and keep them forever.