Mahlobo threatens to sue DA MP over Mogoeng break-in ‘slander’
However, no one seems to be suing the EFF's Floyd Shivambu for an even more strongly worded tweet.
Minister of State Security David Mahlobo. (Photo: GCIS)
According to a report in the Sunday Times, State Security Minister David Mahlobo appears to have heeded a call by his party, the ANC, to take legal action against DA MP John Steenhuisen.
Steenhuisen accused the State Security Agency (SSA) of orchestrating a break-in at the offices of Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng in Midrand in Johannesburg last month.
Curiously, however, nothing has been reported on whether Mahlobo will be taking action against EFF deputy president Floyd Shivambu, who was even more direct in actually naming Mahlobo for not only being behind the break-in, but being the actual burglar.
Both men had taken to social media to voice their suspicions shortly after the break-in, which led to 15 computers containing the personal information of 150 judges and officials being stolen.
Shivambu alleged: “My rational suspicion is that the State Security Agency (Mahlobo) is the one who broke into Chief Justice’s office and stole computers.”
My rational suspicion is that the State Security Agency (Mahlobo) is the one who broke into Chief Justice's office and stole computers.
— Floyd Shivambu (@FloydShivambu) March 18, 2017
Steenhuisen did not actually directly accuse Mahlobo of being behind the break-in, but according to a letter sent to Steenhuisen by Mahlobo’s lawyers, they accuse him of creating the “impression” that Mahlobo was behind the crime.
Steenhuisen had tweeted that his money was “on Mahlobo and the kak-handed SSA”.
My money's on Mahlobo and the kak-handed SSA. Signal jammer, imaginary social media villains and inept break ins. Intimidation of judiciary https://t.co/z7mncm5Xky
— John Steenhuisen MP (@jsteenhuisen) March 18, 2017
When the ANC released a statement challenging Steenhuisen to prove his suspicions, the DA MP tweeted that “nerves must have been touched”.
He asked if the ANC had a guilty conscience.
The ANC advised Mahlobo to consider taking legal action for defamation. The party also seemed oblivious to what Shivambu had tweeted.
Looks like some nerves were touched. The reaction is rather instructive. Guilty conscience??👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻 pic.twitter.com/bMInkcfwEW
— John Steenhuisen MP (@jsteenhuisen) March 18, 2017
Mahlobo’s lawyers want Steenhuisen to remove both his tweets, publish a Twitter apology and never mention his suspicions again.
