Julius Malema, leader of the EFF, is taking legal action against Ngizwe Mchunu, demanding a public apology and R1 million in damages following explosive allegations of drug money links
Image: X/EFF
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema is demanding an apology and R1 million in damages from controversial former Ukhozi FM personality Ngizwe Mchunu, after he claimed that the red berets leader received R60 million from Nigerian drug dealers.
Malema is furious, with outspoken Mchunu now under intense scrutiny.
He has sent a legal letter demanding a public apology and R1 million in damages after being accused of taking money from drug dealers.
Mchunu made the allegations on the sidelines of an anti-illegal immigration protest organised by the civic group March and March in Pretoria on Tuesday.
In a widely shared interview, he alleged that Julius Malema received R60 million from Nigerian drug dealers.
Mchunu also claimed that Malema is protected because of the money he reportedly pocketed from Nigerian drug peddlers, and that he is willing to risk his political career to defend Nigerians and other undocumented foreign nationals.
Malema’s legal team, England Slabert Attorneys INC, said in a letter on Thursday: “It has come to our client’s attention that you have recently made defamatory statements regarding our client.”
The firm said the allegations had been repeated across various social media platforms, including X and TikTok.
“Your statements are neither true nor in the public interest. Your allegations are malicious and are calculated to undermine the good name of our client - which good name our client relies on to continue with his duties as a member of Parliament as well as the President and Commander-in-Chief of the EFF.”
The legal team further argued that Mchunu’s remarks implied that Malema is “a criminal, a fraudster, dishonest and lacks integrity; hypocritical and deliberately misrepresents his true character and conduct to the public, opportunistic and acts solely in his own personal interests rather than in the interests of the public or his constituents, deceitful and manipulative in his political conduct, lacks the necessary moral fibre, independence, and ethical standards required of a public and political leader and is untrustworthy and unfit to hold public office.”
The letter stated that Mchunu’s comments were defamatory and untrue.
“Your defamatory statements are vexatious, untrue, spurious and misplaced. Your unlawful statements seek to tarnish our client’s good name and reputation as a member of Parliament and leader of the EFF.”
The lawyers also alleged the comments were politically motivated ahead of upcoming local government elections.
“Not only were your comments defamatory, but they were made deliberately to extract political leverage in the build-up to the upcoming local government elections to be held either later this year or early next year as you are a well known public figure who openly supports the MK party.”
They added, “Your defamatory statements were intended to cause the public to lose faith in our client and the EFF and this is done in an attempt to cause maximum reputational damage to both our client and the EFF in the attempt to decrease voter support and votes for the EFF in the upcoming local government elections.”
Malema’s legal team said the statements were “deliberate, false and in bad faith.”
“The interview has been shared widely on social media platforms and remains accessible to the public at large. This is compounding the breach of our client’s rights.
“The reach of your defamatory statements is therefore extensive, has caused, and continues to cause, our client significant reputational damage. For as long as it remains online, this worsens.”
They have demanded that Mchunu retract the statements.
Drama is exploding after a former radio star Ngizwe Mchunu made wild claims linking EFF leader Julius Malema to drug money.
Image: File
“Your retraction is to take the form of a public statement in which you, inter alia: apologise to our client for the allegations made; you retract the statements made against our client on account of them being untrue and defamatory of our client; and your retraction is immediate and that you accept the hurtful, damaging and defamatory effect it has had on our client.”
They further instructed that the statement must be shared across all of Mchunu’s social media platforms, including Facebook, X, TikTok and Instagram, and issued as a press statement in his name.
Malema’s legal team also demanded R1 million in damages for harm caused.
“Should you fail to comply with the demands in para 14 above, within 24 hours of receipt of this letter, our client has instructed (us) to launch proceedings against you which may include an action for damages and to seek a punitive costs order against you,” they warned.
Mchunu, a former Ukhozi FM personality, is a well-known public figure who openly supports the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party.
simon.majadibodu@iol.co.za
IOL Politics