Lawyers representing Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema have written to Democratic Alliance (DA) Johannesburg mayoral candidate Helen Zille, accusing her of making false and defamatory statements about him.
The legal letter follows remarks made by Zille in an interview with eNCA, in which she accused Malema of influencing decisions in the City of Johannesburg during Herman Mashaba’s tenure as mayor.
Among the allegations, Zille claimed that Malema had interfered in municipal affairs and instructed Mashaba to appoint former senior police official Shadrack Sibiya as head of the City’s anti-corruption unit.
Malema’s legal representatives have rejected the claims, describing them as false statements that damage their client’s reputation.
They are demanding that Zille withdraw the allegations, issue an apology and provide an undertaking that she will not repeat what they describe as defamatory claims about Malema.
According to the demand, Zille has until 11 November 2026 to retract the statements and apologise.
The lawyers have warned that failure to comply by the deadline will result in further legal action.
The dispute follows Malema’s earlier announcement that he had instructed his lawyers to write to Zille over the allegations, threatening a R1 million defamation claim if she did not retract them.
Zille’s allegations concerning Malema’s alleged influence over decisions in the City of Johannesburg have not been independently established. (zambianobserver.com)
