By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
NB Publishers has received an urgent letter of demand on Monday from Julius Malema, Floyd Shivambu and Mbuyiseni Ndlozi’s attorneys demanding the immediate withdrawal of Our Poisoned Land, published on 11 November 2022
The letter also requests that “both author Jacques Pauw and NB Publishers unconditionally apologise to Malema, Shivambu, Ndlozi, and all other members of the Economic Freedom Fighters, for the negligent and mala fide publication of untrue, unverified, and defamatory allegations pertaining to those parties, which publications have been unconditionally withdrawn, and will not be republished, either now or in the future.”
“These allegations are untrue, and, collectively, are both defamatory and constitute the unlawful publication of private facts related to our clients,” the letter from Ian Levitt Attorneys stated.
The letter threatened court action should their demands not be met.
“The allegations do not benefit the public interest because, firstly, they are untrue; and secondly, because certain of the allegations are made in respect of private elements of our clients’ lives, which have no bearing on our clients’ role in the public space,” the letter stated about the 10 allegations.
The letter is in response to the shocking allegations unearthed by Pauw, detailing the extent of Malema’s controversial relationship with self-confessed tobacco smuggler Adriano Mazzotti.
In it, Pauw exposed Malema’s alleged dealings with Mazzotti, including hosting lavish parties and allegedly receiving cash envelopes from the businessman.
Malema allegedly held secret meetings with Mazzotti, one of which was reportedly attended by Shivambu.
Responding to the allegations, EFF spokersperson Sinawo Tambo said Pauw was a “drunkard who writes lies”, saying he lied to police when he could not pay a restaurant bill at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town.
“A drunkard who writes lies about the police when he cannot pay a restaurant bill is back trying to revive his career in the name of the EFF, “said Tambo.
“Brandy and coke has inspired him to write a book.”
Exclusive interviews with a housekeeper, who Pauw had given the pseudonym Margaret, and a chef, who catered for the EFF leader, challenge Malema’s version of having only received a R200 000 donation from Mazzotti once in 2014.
The EFF’s source of income has been shrouded in mystery for years. The party has only once, in February this year, declared donations of more than R100 000 to the Electoral Commission of South Africa.
Regarding the book’s claim that Malema would often fetch envelopes, allegedly filled with cash, at Mazzotti’s properties, the lawyer’s letter stated that Malema was made out to be a corrupt official, involved in fraud and bribery.
In response to the letter, NB Publishers said they stands by its author and the book. The information in the book was properly sourced and lawfully published and demands for removal and apologies have been rejected.