The Gauteng High Court has ruled in favour of EFF President Julius Malema in his defamation case against social media commentator Musa Khawula.
The court found that Khawula wrote defamatory, untrue, and unlawful accusations about Malema and his wife, Ms. Mantoa Matlala, regarding their marital status.
In its ruling, the High Court ordered Khawula to pay the costs of the application.
The case stems from posts Khawula published on social media in which he made claims about Malema’s marriage. Malema approached the court arguing that the statements were false, damaged his dignity, and invaded the privacy of his family.
Delivering the judgment, the court emphasized that freedom of expression does not extend to the spread of untrue and harmful statements about individuals. The court held that public figures are still entitled to protection from defamation, particularly when allegations extend to their families.
The EFF welcomed the ruling, calling it a victory against “disinformation and social media abuse.” At the time of publication, Khawula had not issued a public response to the judgment.
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