Hefty legal bills for two accusers of DA’s Trollip

FORMER Democratic Alliance Nelson Mandela Bay councillor Knight Mali, who is being sued for more than R1-million in damages by DA mayor Athol Trollip, is in for a hefty legal bill after seeking a last-minute postponement in the defamation case.

Mali, who last year defected to the ANC, yesterday agreed to pay the wasted legal costs caused by the postponement of the matter set down some eight months ago to kick off in the Grahamstown High Court yesterday.

Trollip’s lawyer Brin Brody yesterday estimated the costs would be in the region of R60 000.

Brody said it was no coincidence that Mali was using the identical legal tactics as former ANC NMB councillor Lawrence Troon, who is also facing a hefty R5-million defamation damages claim from Trollip.

In February, Troon sought a lastminute postponement and, like Mali, agreed to pay the costs of it.

That defamation suit has now been set down for June next year.

Trollip claims that Troon and Mali damaged his good name and reputation in trumped-up allegations implying he was a racist and a human rights abuser.

The two men produced statements from several men and women who claimed they had once worked on or near Trollip’s former Mount Prospect farm outside Bedford.

Among other things, the group claimed they had been underpaid, exploited and treated badly by the Trollip family.

Trollip at the time said that although he firmly believed politicians should have thick skins, this had hurt him deeply and personally and was such an assault on his good name that he had decided for the first time in his long political life to litigate.

Brody said the delaying tactics by both men were a clear indication they had no evidence or witnesses to back up their defamatory claims.

Both Troon and Mali say the claims are true and in the public interest.

But Brody said their claims were without foundation and Trollip had all his farm records to disprove all of it.

Trollip yesterday charged that the ANC was behind the smear campaign and was likely funding Mali and Troon’s defence.

Mali rejected any ANC involvement.