African National Congress (ANC) National Executive Committee (NEC) member has hauled former President Jacob Zuma to court.
He is seeking R500,000 in damages from Zuma over his claim that Hanekom “is a well-known enemy agent.”
Zuma made the claim via Twitter in late July soon after Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema claimed Hanekom met them in 2017 to discuss Zuma’s removal from office.
I’m not surprised by @Julius_S_Malema revelations regarding @Derek_Hanekom. It is part of the plan I mentioned at the Zondo Commission. @Derek_Hanekom is a known enemy agent.
Former President Jacob Zuma
‘Defamatory and false’
In court papers filed at the Durban High Court on 5 August, Hanekom says Zuma’s claim is “defamatory and false.”
He is seeking an order for Zuma to delete the tweet and to post the following statement on his Twitter account:
On 25 July 2019, I published a tweet which alleges that Mr Derek Hanekom is a known enemy agent. I unconditionally withdraw this allegation and apologise for making it as it is entirely false. I have no basis whatsoever for asserting that Mr Hanekom is a known enemy agent.
The apology Derek Hanekom is seeking from Jacob Zuma
Hanekom also deposited a founding affidavit in which he says Zuma’s claim “casts aspersions on my character and integrity.”
He denies ever being a spy for the apartheid “or for any other authority for that matter.”
Zuma to oppose application
According to Business Day, Zuma has indicated that he is opposing Hanekom’s court application.
This is the first court application against Zuma over his claims that some leaders in the ANC served as apartheid spies.
During his appearance at the Zondo Commission on State Capture in July, he also claimed that former minister Ngoako Ramatlhodi was an apartheid spy.
Ramatlhodi said he would not take Zuma to court, but challenged him to take a lie detector test to prove his claim.