Yasmine Jacobs | Published 6 days ago
Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema has filed an urgent contempt of court application in the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria against social commentator Ngizwe Mchunu on Monday, accusing him of defying a recent court order by continuing to make defamatory statements.
According to a statement posted on social media by the EFF and Malema on Monday, the application seeks an order declaring Mchunu guilty of contempt of court and sentencing him to six months’ imprisonment without the option of a fine.
The party alleges that Mchunu “intentionally and unlawfully continued making defamatory statements” about Malema despite a court order granted on June 5, 2026, and “intentionally and unlawfully refused to comply with and respect that order”.
Court documents filed in the Gauteng Division of the High Court show that the matter is set down for hearing on June 17 at 10am.
In the notice of motion, Malema, who was cited as the applicant, asked the court to condone non-compliance with the usual court rules and to hear the matter as one of urgency in terms of Uniform Rule 6(12).
The respondents listed in the application are Mchunu, the Minister of Police, and the National Commissioner of the South African Police Service.
The court papers directs Mchunu to notify Malema’s attorneys, England Slabbert Attorneys Inc., by June 8 at 2pm if he intends to oppose the application. He is also required to file an answering affidavit by June 10 at 5pm.
According to the papers, Malema may submit a replying affidavit, if necessary, by June 11 at noon.
The latest legal action comes as a court battle intensifies between the two men.
Earlier this month, Mchunu retracted statements he had made about Malema following a court ruling. He later issued an apology to both the court and Malema after being found guilty of contempt of court.
The EFF now argues that despite the earlier ruling and apology, Mchunu continued making remarks in violation of the court order.
The matter is expected to return to court on June 17.
IOL
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