Malema and wife to sue MP over domestic abuse allegations

Opposition leader Julius Malema and his wife Mantoa Matlala have threatened to sue an MP for South Africa’s governing party if he fails to withdraw allegations that Mr Malema abused his wife. 

Lawyers for the couple said that if Africa National Congress (ANC) MP Boy Mamabolo refused to apologise for his accusations, Mr Malema and Ms Matlala would sue him for one million rand each. 

Mr Mamabolo responded to the threat on Twitter, posting “Bring it on let’s meet in court”. 

His allegations have also been criticised by the ANC Women’s League, which accused him of carrying out a “misguided attack” on an “innocent woman who is not even a politician”. 

Mr Mamabolo made the allegations during a week of serious political hostility between Mr Malema’s Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and the ANC.

That week also saw Mr Malema accuse President Cyril Ramaphosa in parliament of abusing his late wife. 

After refusing to retract the comment, Mr Malema was ordered to leave the chamber. 

In response to the situation, EFF have tweeted a letter sent to Mr Mamabolo by Ms Matlala’s lawyers, saying: “Your false accusations have now cast a dark cloud over the entire family”. 

Photo: The Times (South Africa)