The “unsubstantiated allegations” of gender-based violence against EFF leader Julius Malema could have grave effects, particularly on his young children, says his legal representative Ian Levitt.
In a letter to ANC MP Boy Mamabolo, who made the allegation against Malema that he was “physically abusive towards his wife”, Levitt said the children stand to be “mocked and ridiculed” at school as a result of Mamabolo’s utterances.
“As you may, or may not be aware, our client has small children, the eldest being 13 years old. Your false accusations have cast a dark cloud over the entire family.
“These children now need to attend schooling and be mocked and ridiculed due to the false accusations levelled against their parent. Your false accusations have caused grave harm and damage to the family,” reads Levitt’s letter.
Malema’s legal representative, who also represents his wife Mantwa Matlala, added that “the false and defamatory statements” also equated to a sort of “physically and emotionally abuse” towards Malema’s wife and “by extension, an abuse to her children”.
Levitt also informs Mamabolo that his clients have instructed him to inform the ANC MP to “retract the statements on account of them being untrue and apologise to their client”. Failure to do this, would result in the lawyers instituting legal proceedings against Mamabolo, seeking damages to the tune of R1 million.
The letter was sent before Tuesday’s state of the nation debate, in which Malema – having been forced into a corner – accused President Cyril Ramaphosa of physically abusing his late former wife Nomazizi Mtshotshisa.
Malema justified it by saying that, unlike Mamabolo, he had people who could attest to the truthfulness of his utterances.
“President Zuma can confirm that Nomazizi, the ex-wife of the president, used to complain to President Zuma about being abused. Bring it on, I am not scared of all of you. You don’t want the truth, your president abused his ex-wife.”
“I can leave the House, the facts remain. Nomazizi must rest in peace. She was abused by your president,” he said, before leaving the House followed by all EFF MPs.
Other MPs who spoke after Malema condemned the actions of both Malema and Mamabolo and accused them of using a very sensitive topic in South African society in their attempts to score political points.
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