Solidariteit launches defamation case against Minister in the Presidency

Solidarity has launched a defamation case against the Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni. The second respondent in the case is President Cyril Ramaphosa.

The defamation case comes after the Minister said at a media conference that the Cabinet noted with concern continued misinformation campaigns by Solidarity and AfriForum. She also said that law enforcement agencies were investigating the violation of laws.

These statements were made following the Solidarity Movement’s visit to the USA after President Trump issued an executive order regarding South Africa.

However, Minister Ntshaveni and the government did not provide any evidence at all of this so-called misinformation.

According to Solidarity Chief Executive Dr Dirk Hermann, the truth, however, is that the Solidarity Movement actually intervened for South Africa after the government had caused a diplomatic crisis with its most important trading partner.

“The ANC’s ideological short-sightedness has plunged South Africa into a crisis. It had nothing to do with Solidarity. Solidarity’s major focus during the US tour was the preservation of the AGOA trade agreement.”

“It is our members and ordinary people who are going to lose their jobs. We took a stand for them. Our documentation focused largely on that, and while it may have exposed uncomfortable truths about the ANC, it was certainly not untrue,” Hermann said.

Solidarity is now asking that the Minister be found guilty of defamation and that she be ordered to pay damages. In its court documents, Solidarity also undertakes to donate the full amount paid for damages to Solidarity Helping Hand to help people in need.

According to Hermann, the court case between Solidarity and the Minister in the Presidency is all about fighting for the truth. Solidarity wants to stand firmly on the side of the truth in this court case. “The diplomatic crisis between South Africa and the USA can be laid squarely and solely at the door of the ANC. Accusing institutions such as Solidarity and AfriForum of misinformation and even treason is false and defamatory.

“The Minister in the Presidency should know better. We can no longer allow senior figures in government to get away with false statements and defamation. They think they can say and do whatever they want without consequences. They want to shift the blame.

“They create a false master narrative that, if repeated enough, eventually becomes the ‘truth’ in people’s minds. They then hide behind this falsehood to cover up their part in the diplomatic crisis with the USA. Solidarity has decided to go to court to bring an end to this false master narrative of misinformation,” Hermann said.

According to Hermann, the Minister’s failure to provide evidence of misinformation means that her statements simply become statements that hang in the air.

He believes the only misinformation at issue here is misinformation about Solidarity.   See the founding affidavit here and the notice of motion here.