Gayton McKenzie has clapped back at Julius Malema’s threat to sue him for defamation after he labelled the Economic Freedom Fighter leader “stupid” and a “bank robber” in a recent Facebook Live rant.
The Patriotic Alliance leader – the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture – also claimed that the EFF was “in ICU”.
GAYTON FIRES BACK AT MALEMA’S DEFAMATION THREAT
Speaking to EWN, Julius Malema responded to the comments made by Gayton McKenzie, whom he labelled a “jailbird”.
He said: “I never went to jail, I never got arrested for stealing. I’ve never robbed anything in my entire life. Never.”
“I’ve never engaged with them like that. Because I showed Kenny [Kunene] the door.”
Malema threatened to sue Gayton for “damaging my image”.
He continued: “I will take him on. Don’t lie about me… If you become personal, I will sue you. I don’t play games.”
On his X account, Gayton responded to Malema’s legal threat, posting “This one thinks he has the sole mandate to insult people. Go to hell”.
COCKROACH CHRONICLES
In 2021, Malema sued Gayton McKenzie’s right-hand man, Kenny Kunene, after the latter called him a “cockroach” and a “frog” during a media briefing.
At the time, Kunene – a former EFF ambassador – said: “Julius is just an irritating cockroach that now I must deal with publicly.”
“Julius is a criminal, and I’m going to show South Africans the crimes he has been involved in. I’m going to tell South Africans why I left the EFF because of this cockroach. So, I’m going to deal with this cockroach because we have given him time and respect”.
In 2023, the Johannesburg High Court ordered Kunene to publicly apoligise to Malema, which he refused to do.
He has since applied for leave to appeal the judgement.
SHOULD POLITICIANS BE PERMITTED TO MAKE PERSONAL ATTACKS AGAINST EACH OTHER?
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