Developing story: the deadline expires at close of business today, and this report will be updated.
DA Johannesburg mayoral candidate Helen Zille says she will neither retract nor apologise over remarks about EFF leader Julius Malema, as a deadline set by Malema's lawyers falls due at close of business on Wednesday.
The EFF says it will file a defamation case if she does not comply.
The demand and the response
Malema, through his lawyers, issued Zille with a formal demand to retract the remarks and apologise by close of business on Wednesday.
On Tuesday, Zille said on X that she would neither retract her statements nor apologise to anyone.
EFF national spokesperson Sinawo Tambo said the party is ready to go to court and will file a defamation case if Zille does not retract.
What Zille said
The remarks were made in a television interview on Sunday. According to the account we have seen, Zille alleged that former Johannesburg mayor Herman Mashaba followed an instruction from Malema to appoint Shadrack Sibiya to a corruption-fighting role in the city. Earlier reports on the demand described the remarks as relating to Johannesburg's City Power. These descriptions are being reconciled against the demand letter.
Why it matters for Johannesburg
The dispute lands in the middle of coalition talks in Johannesburg, where no party won an outright majority in the local elections. ActionSA, led by Mashaba, has said it is willing to step aside from the mayoral race only if Zille also withdraws, according to a letter reported to have been sent to DA leader Geordin Hill-Lewis.
What we do not yet know
- The exact wording of Zille's interview remarks and of Malema's letter of demand.
- Whether the EFF has filed court papers, and in which court.
- Any response from Mashaba or the DA to the dispute.
The allegations in Zille's remarks are unproven, and Malema and Mashaba have not been shown to have acted as alleged.
