On Thursday, Mthembu ordered the disgruntled SABC ‘boss’ to:
Pay a sum of R1 000 000;
– Issue unconditional public apology for the injury caused to the Chief Whip as a result of the defamatory statement, both in print and over a public broadcast, within seven days of the date of judgment; and
– Pay the legal costs
This follows the malicious and defamatory allegations publicly made against Mthembu by Motsoeneng few weeks ago during the live broadcast of the New Age business briefing on October 27.
Through his legal counsel Nicqui Galaktiou Inc, a letter was sent to Mr Motsoeneng on November 2 demanding an immediate public apology and retraction for his defamatory claims.
The letter further demanded that Mr Motsoeneng disclose all the details of the alleged meeting where such attempted “capture” allegedly took placed.
Having failed to do so within the stipulated period, legal proceedings have now been lodged with the Court and Mr Motsoeneng will be served with the papers in the next few days.
“There is no doubt that Mr 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.
While the statements/accusations usually blurted out by Mr Motsoeneng would ordinarily be dismissed, the nature of his allegations is such that, if left unchallenged, might stand as facts in the minds of some people, thus permanently impairing the Chief Whip’s good name.
To protect his name and the integrity of the ANC in Parliament in relation to its position on the SABC, the Chief Whip is seeking relief through the Court, “read media statement.
