The Minister of Land Reform and Rural Development Mzwanele Nyhontso is taking legal action against anti-illegal migration activist Nkosikhona "Phakel'umthakathi" Ndabandaba over defamatory utterances.
The Ministry of Land Reform and Rural Development has announced that it will institute legal proceedings against social media personality Nkosikhona Ndabandaba, popularly known as "Phakelumthakathi", over allegations made against Minister Mzwanele Nyhontso.
In a media statement issued on Tuesday, the ministry said it had noted "with serious concern" public statements circulated on social media platforms and during a podcast appearance in which Ndabandaba allegedly made claims about the minister and the department.
According to the ministry, the allegations include accusations that Nyhontso is involved in the abuse of black people on farms, the eviction of black families and the transfer of land to white farmers.
The ministry rejected the allegations, describing them as "false, unfounded and damaging".It further stated that the claims are unsupported by evidence and have the potential to mislead the public, harm the reputation of both the minister and the department, and undermine confidence in government's efforts to advance land reform, tenure security, restitution and rural development.
