Say you’re sorry, and pay me R1 million – Mthembu sues Motsoeneng for defamation
ANC chief whip Jackson Mthembu is suing SABC executive Hlaudi Motsoeneng for defamation – seeking R1 million in damages to his name.
Mthembu lodged the legal claim after Motoeneng made statements during a live Business Briefing broadcast, alleging that Mthembu had tried to “capture” him.
In the broadcast, Motsoeneng warned Mthembu to stop criticising him, or else he would reveal details about a business transaction he claimed Mthembu wanted help with.
Mthembu said that the allegation was rubbish, and challenged Motsoeneng to produce any evidence that such a transaction existed.
“There is no doubt that Motsoeneng’s claims are unfounded, unsubstantiated and blatantly false. The made-up accusations, aired publicly on live television, were intended to impugn the character of the chief whip.
“Imputing improper motives on the chief whip was clearly designed to threaten and blackmail him and the ANC in Parliament into silence on a matter of principle with the hope that the inquiry into the SABC, which the ANC caucus has outspokenly pursued, would be abandoned,” Mthembu’s lawyers said in a statement.
He said Motsoeneng’s statements amounted to defamation, and was looking for a public retraction, an unconditional apology, and for the controversial SABC executive to pay him R1 million in damages to his name.
Read: Hlaudi Motsoeneng offered staff R10,000 ‘sweetener deals’ to gain favour: DA
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