UMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) national spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela has filed a defamation lawsuit against the party’s former general secretary, Floyd Shivambu, seeking R3-million in damages over statements of drug and alcohol abuse made during a television interview.
Ndhlela is also asking for interest on the amount claimed in terms of the Prescribed Rate of Interest Act, legal costs, and further or alternative relief the court may deem appropriate.
The summons was filed in the Johannesburg High Court on Friday. It relates to an interview broadcast on eNCA on June 23, during which Shivambu allegedly made several “false and defamatory statements” about Ndhlela.
The interview has since been widely circulated on social media platforms. These include TikTok, YouTube, Instagram and X.
Shivambu retracts statements
Speaking during a consultation process on Friday, Shivambu retracted his statements made during the interview. He said that after consulting with the Mayibuye i Africa committee, he was advised to retract.
“When I uttered those statements, I was not yet the National Convener of the Mayibuye i Africa process at the time. Now, I have the benefit of being part of a leadership collective that provides guidance on how we should conduct ourselves, especially in handling sensitive matters.
“Under that guidance, we wish to unconditionally retract statements that were previously made regarding drug use and alcohol abuse. Those remarks were inappropriate and are hereby withdrawn without reservation.”
“However, we take this opportunity to encourage all South Africans to steer clear of drugs and alcohol—particularly those who serve as Members of Parliament or hold leadership positions in political parties. Substance abuse leads to poor decision-making and should be avoided at all costs.”
“Once again, we unconditionally retract the earlier statements, in line with the leadership guidance we have received,” he said.
Statements intended to harm
According to the court documents, Shivambu described Ndhlela as “an imbecile” and “a fool”. He claimed that Ndhlela is “always on drugs and always high on alcohol”. Shivambu also accused Ndhlela of “lying to former president Jacob Zuma and of using Zuma’s daughter to gain influence within the MK Party”.
Ndhlela argues that these statements were made without any factual basis and were intended to harm his dignity and reputation. The court papers state that the remarks have resulted in reputational damage, emotional distress, and public ridicule.
He added that the remarks were widely viewed and recognised by the public as referring to him. Ndhlela claimed that after the interview aired, he received numerous calls and messages from colleagues, journalists and associates asking him to respond to the allegations.
Screenshots of social media posts
The summons include screenshots of social media posts in which members of the public mocked or criticised Ndhlela based on Shivambu’s remarks. Ndhlela’s legal team submitted these screenshots to support the claim that the interview caused widespread reputational harm.
On June 24, a day after the interview, Ndhlela’s attorneys sent a written demand to Shivambu requesting a public apology and retraction of the statements. The summons indicate that no apology was issued, and that Shivambu failed to respond to the request.
As part of the civil claim, Ndhlela is seeking R3-million. This amount is damages for impairment of dignity, loss of reputation, and injury to his political career. The court papers state that Ndhlela has suffered “anxiety, stress and humiliation” as a result of the remarks. His credibility was questioned by members of his political party and colleagues in Parliament as a result.
He argues that the defamatory comments have affected him severely. His ability to carry out his responsibilities as a public representative and spokesperson was affected. The claim also states that the statements portray him as dishonest, immoral, and unfit for public office.
Given 10 court days to respond
Shivambu has been given 10 court days from the date of service to notify the court of his intention to oppose the case. If no notice is filed, the plaintiff may apply for default judgment without further notice.
Ndhlela is represented by Ndou Attorneys, based in Johannesburg. The firm filed the combined summons electronically. It was time stamped by the court registrar on June 27, 2025. Shivambu had not filed any responding papers at the time of publication. And no date has been set for the matter to be heard in court.
