Economic Freedom Fighters first lady Mantoa Matlala Malema has instituted legal proceeding with the view to suing ANC MP Boy Mamabolo R1 million over domestic violence claims he made in parliament last week.
Mamabolo, an erstwhile friend of the EFF Commander in Chief, claimed during the State of the Nation Address (SONA) that Parliament was being abused same as Matlala in her home. This was during a debate on whether apartheid’s last president F.W de Klerk should leave the house or not.
While members of Parliament can’t be sued for what they say in the house, Mamabolo repeated the claims in an interview with the Sowetan.
In the letter sent to Mamabolo by Matlala’s lawyers, Ian Levitt Attorneys, Matlala claims that the defamatory statement has also affected to the couple’s children who are allegedly mocked and ridiculed in relation to the statement.
“We are further instructed that you have no evidence of any of your allegations. Self-evidently, therefore, there is no factual basis to your claims. The importance of this admission regarding your liability to our client for such defamatory statements cannot be overstated,” reads part of the letter.
To remedy the matter, Mamabolo is asked to retract the statement he made about Matlala and his apology must be posted on all his social media accounts including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
He is also required to release a statement in his name, which will be circulated to media houses with the help of the EFF. He is given the deadline of Wednesday, 19 February 2020.
“Should you fail to do so, we hold instructions to institute further legal action against you which action we will institute damages against our client in the amount of R1 000 000.00 (one million rand) and seek punitive costs against you,” reads the letter in part.
While attempts to get comment from Mamabolo proved unsuccessful at the time of going to press, he wrote on his Facebook that he will neither withdraw nor apologise for his remarks.
“No retreat No surrender,” Mamabolo wrote.
By Boitumelo Kgobotlo
Malema slaps old friend Mamabolo with R1m claim
