By Thapelo Molefe
Political analyst Phapano Phasha said on Friday she had instructed her lawyers to seek leave to appeal a defamation judgment she lost to newly elected ANC Johannesburg regional chairperson Loyiso Masuku.
Phasha also said she would write to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to demand answers over inaction on SIU COVID-19 PPE corruption referrals.
The Johannesburg High Court found that claims aired on a podcast linking Masuku to a “PPE cartel” and vote-buying were defamatory and unlawful.
Masuku denied the allegations and issued a cease-and-desist notice demanding a retraction and apology. When Phasha refused, Masuku approached the Johannesburg High Court on an urgent basis.
In a judgment delivered on Wednesday, the court found the statements to be “clearly defamatory, reckless and unlawful”, rejecting the defence of fair comment.
The court interdicted Phasha and the podcast host from repeating the allegations, ordered the immediate removal of the content
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