The long-simmering political tension between Mpumalanga EFF chairperson Collen Sedibe and ANC education MEC Cathy Dlamini has exploded into a legal battle after she instructed her attorneys to pursue defamation charges against him over what her legal team calls “nasty and defamatory” Facebook posts.
In a letter of demand dated April 28, and seen by Sunday World, law firm Phosa Loots Inc accuses Sedibe of spreading false and damaging claims that Dlamini is involved in fraudulent activities within the education department.
“We confirm that we act on behalf of Mrs Landulile Catherine Dlamini,” wrote the firm’s director, Jaco Loots. “You have personally stated wilfully false and misleading posts regarding our client… they are defamatory per se in that they depict our client as engaging in fraudulent and corrupt activities that violate civil laws.”
Sedibe’s allegations, made publicly on Facebook, include claims that Dlamini manipulated tenders in the school nutrition and IT procurement programs to favour politically connected individuals. He has also claimed to possess video footage of Dlamini meeting with a service provider.
Dlamini’s lawyers demanded that Sedibe take down the posts and issue a public apology within five days, failing which they will pursue civil litigation.
“The Facebook posts you have posted are unequivocally false, highly damaging to our client’s personal and professional reputation, and were made with either actual malice or reckless disregard for the truth,” Loots wrote.
In response to Dlamini’s legal action, Sedibe posted: “Bring it on. I [am] not going to remove the posts nor apologise for exposing corruption. Never! That’s my work as an EFF public representative.”
But Dlamini’s lawyers insist that the damage to her reputation is “serious and irreparable”.
Loots adds, “Our client will not stand by and allow this misconduct to continue.”
Dlamini has described Sedibe’s accusations as politically motivated blackmail aimed at capturing her department.
When contacted for comment on the impending lawsuit, Sedibe shared a draft of his legal instructions with his lawyers, positioning himself as a legislator fulfilling constitutional duties.
“You are reminded that our client holds the following positions: chairperson of the EFF Mpumalanga; EFF party leader in the Mpumalanga legislature; and sits on various legislature committees, including Scopa (standing committee on public accounts),” the draft reads.
“Our client has a constitutional obligation to discharge his political duties on behalf of and in the best interests of the voters who supported the EFF.”
The draft insists that Sedibe’s posts constitute protected political speech.
“The remarks of our client were intended to express opinions regarding matters of public interest… not to defame or harm your client. Our client had in no way made the remarks about your client with malice… her name was merely brought into a political debate.”
With no signs of retreating from either side, the province’s most funded portfolio could soon take centre stage in court – where one of the fiercest political spats in Mpumalanga’s recent history may meet its legal reckoning. Sedi-be himself faces scrutiny over anonymous allegations that he has used his political influence to blackmail provincial officials and secure tenders for his allies – accusations he has denied.
The claims, made online, coincide with public outrage over his multimillion-rand lifestyle, which includes a R6-million Mercedes G63 Brabus, a Mercedes Viano, a Range Rover, and a luxury estate in Mbombela.
“How do you link owning cars and properties with corruption?” Sedibe asked on Facebook. “Which law says public representatives like Hon Collen Sedibe have no right to have friends who are in business?”
