AfriForum sues MEC over assassination claim

AfriForum has filed papers in its defamation suit against Gauteng education MEC Panyaza Lesufi following his televised claim in November that they were trying to “assassinate” him.

AfriForum threatened to sue Lesufi over the claims last year, and filed papers this week.

In a tweet on Saturday, Lesufi implied the court papers were prompted by his comments about Orania.

Earlier this week, at a ceremony honouring late struggle stalwart Harry Gwala, Lesufi reportedly called for an end to the Afrikaner enclave, as it was neither a symbol of inclusivity nor democracy, according to TimesLive.

Posting a picture of the court papers, a copy of which News24 has in its possession, Lesufi tweeted: “My sin was to speak against #Orania.

“Like other previous attempts this one will also fail. I hate racism with a passion but I am addicted to non-racialism.”

However, AfriForum CEO Kallie Kriel said the case was filed before Lesufi’s comments about Orania.

“He is blatantly lying by linking it to Orania, just as he lied when he created the assassination conspiracy theory,” said Kriel.

News24 attempted, via phone calls and several text messages, to obtain comment from Lesufi and his spokesperson Steven Mabona on Saturday.

No response had been received at the time of publication.

The legal action revolves around comments broadcast during a media briefing in November last year, in which Lesufi claimed AfriForum had been following him, his children, and had been trying to assassinate him.

AfriForum head of policy and action Ernst Roets told News24 at the time that the organisation had done “none of the things” that Lesufi alleged. – News24 Wire