FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

17 NOVEMBER 2016
ANC CHIEF WHIP LODGES LAWSUIT AGAINST MOTSOENENG
The legal counsel of the Chief Whip of the African National Congress in Parliament, Cde Jackson
Mthembu, yesterday initiated formal court proceedings against SABCs Group Executive of Corporate
Affairs, Mr Hlaudi Motsoeneng, for the malicious and defamatory allegations he publicly made against
him few weeks ago. During the live broadcast of the New Age business briefing on 27 October, Mr
Motsoeneng made outrageous claims and veiled threats against the Chief Whip, warning him to desist
from making a lot of noise regarding the SABC and alleging his interest was driven by ulterior
motives. Mr Motsoeneng further alleged that the Chief Whip had attempted to capture him.
The Chief Whips legal representatives, Nicqui Galaktiou Inc, on 2 November sent a letter to Mr
Motsoeneng 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 Motsoenengs 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 Whips 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.
In his Court papers, the Chief Whip is asking the Court to order Mr Motsoeneng 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
The Chief Whip remains unshaken and unintimidated by Mr Motsoenengs spurious allegations
and attempted blackmail, and is hopeful that a favourable judgment of the Court would dissuade Mr
Motsoeneng from making similar thoughtless utterances in future.
ISSUED BY THE OFFICE OF THE ANC CHIEF WHIP
Enquiries:
Moloto Mothapo 082 370 6930