MK Party MP Andile Mngxitama has been ordered to publicly retract, apologise and pay a large sum of money for accusing a property mogul of being complicit in a Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) fronting scandal.
A default court order handed down by the Gauteng High Court on June 2 states that Mngxitama should pay over a million rand in damages for claiming that the owner of SKG Africa, Jean Prieur du Plessis, was using a Black woman as a front in order to clinch major government tenders.
The amount excludes legal fees and interest on the money spent by du Plessis. “The first defendant issues an unconditional written apology and retraction on his social media platform (Twitter and Facebook) in relation to the defamatory statements…” according to the order.
Mngxitama laid charges against Du Plessis in October 2024 and lodged a complaint against him with the Public Protector Kholeka Gcaleka.
He alleged that Du Plessis’s associated companies got at least 81 government leasing contracts valued at R42 million per month as a result of BEE fronting. Nontutuzelo Mbiza is the Black woman Mngxitama alleged to be part of the scheme. She is listed as a 51% owner of SKG Africa.
Speaking to Sunday World following the court order, Mngxitama said he was under the impression that the case was withdrawn.
He has, however, vowed to take the matter under review.
“He served me and then withdrew; that is the last time I heard about the matter. I am shocked that he got a default judgement. The matter did not even go to my attorney. I will be challenging the decision,” he said.
At the time, Mngxitama said he couldn’t stand aside and watch Du Plessis using a “black face” to become a billionaire.
Mngxitama went as far as calling for President Cyril Ramaphosa and Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean MacPherson to suspend all contracts linked to Du Plessis and SKG Africa.
He alleged that senior managers within the department are complicit in enabling Du Plessis to exploit the system, estimating that he generates over R500 million annually from dealings with the department.
Police wrote a letter to the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure in which they are asking to be provided with lease agreements they have with Intacora Investments, one of Du Plessis’ companies.
Police also requested “decisions of the bid adjudication committee, which set conditions for Du Plessis to produce a BBBEE certificate before he gets the tender”.
