EFF leader Julius Malema has issued a demand to DA federal council chair Helen Zille to retract and apologise for statements made about him in an interview on Sunday, November 8. Malema's attorneys, England Slabbert Attorneys Inc, claim that Zille made defamatory statements during the interview, which have since been repeated in various media reports and on social media platform X. The statements in question relate to alleged political interference in the City of Johannesburg, including the City Power fleet tender.
According to Malema's attorneys, Zille claimed that he wielded influence over former Johannesburg mayor Herman Mashaba, allowing him to dictate major decisions and capture City Power. Zille was quoted as saying that Mashaba became the EFF's mayor and allowed Malema to dictate major decisions and capture City Power, and dictate the fleet tender and do all kinds of things that were in the interest of Malema and his front companies. Malema's legal team argues that these statements are 'vexatious, misplaced, spurious and untrue'.
Malema's attorneys further argue that Zille's statements portrayed him as dishonest, corrupt and someone who abused his political influence to control public institutions and procurement processes for personal benefit. The statements also suggested that Malema interfered with anti-corruption structures to avoid scrutiny of himself and his associates, questioning his integrity and suitability to hold public office. The attorneys claim that Zille provided no basis for these allegations, which were not expressions of opinion but allegations of fact.
Malema's legal team has demanded that Zille issue a public retraction and apologise for the allegations, acknowledging that they were untrue and defamatory. The attorneys want the statement published across all Zille's social media accounts, including Facebook, X and Instagram, as well as issued as a press statement in her name and distributed to media houses. The letter further demands that the wording of the retraction be submitted to the attorneys for approval before publication.
Zille has been given until close of business on Wednesday to comply with the demands. If she fails to do so, Malema's attorneys have stated that they hold instructions to institute further legal action against her, without further notice, including a claim for damages and an interdict restraining any further publication of the statements. Malema's legal team claims that the statements were intended to cause the EFF and its leader maximum political damage, as the party is among the DA's strongest political opponents nationally.
The allegations in question relate to the appointment of Shadrack Sibiya as head of the city's anti-corruption unit, which Zille claimed was done at Malema's instruction. Malema's attorneys argue that this claim is untrue and was made deliberately to exact political revenge on Malema and the EFF, describing Zille's conduct as mala fide. The attorneys also claim that Zille's statements have caused serious harm to Malema's good name and reputation as a public and political figure.
The demand for a retraction and apology is the latest development in a long-standing feud between Malema and Zille. The EFF and DA have been political opponents for years, and the party's have clashed on several occasions. It remains to be seen how Zille will respond to Malema's demands, and whether the matter will escalate into a lengthy and costly court battle.
Key points
- Malema demands Zille retract and apologise for 'defamatory' City Power claims.
- Zille has been given until close of business on Wednesday to comply with the demands.
- Malema's legal team claims that the statements were intended to cause the EFF and its leader maximum political damage.
