KNYSNA NEWS - Knysna deputy mayor Aubrey Tsengwa is threatening legal action in his personal capacity against the chairperson of the community organisation Knysna United, Ralph Stander.
The issue relates to statements Stander allegedly made earlier this year in an e-mail to the acting municipal manager and Western Cape Premier on alleged corruption within the Knysna Municipality.
In a letter to Stander dated 17 August, Tsengwa's attorney Nandi Bulabula referred to an e-mail sent to the MM and premier on 25 May, wherein Stander, according to the lawyer's letter, stated that Knysna United had been complaining about "corruption and misappropriation" at the Knysna Municipality for a long time, and wrote, "Also the central role the chief financial officer is playing in the whole affairs. Also the deputy mayor is implicated but he is in charge of investigating himself and his close friend and comrade, the CFO."
Bulabula said these sweeping allegations portray Tsengwa as a corrupt individual. "Our client has advised us that despite him requesting yourself to do so, you have to date failed to produce even an iota of evidence to substantiate these broad and baseless allegations. It is our client's opinion that the allegations contained in your above e-mail are scandalous, vexatious, malicious and extremely defamatory in nature and have caused substantial damage to his reputation," read Bulabula's letter.
She said the deputy mayor has instructed her firm to demand either a formal full retraction of each and every defamatory statement made against Tsengwa in the e-mail of 25 May, addressed to all individuals to whom the e-mail was sent, including Tsengwa; or that Stander provide factual and substantial evidence regarding the defamatory statements on or before 30 August.
Failing this, the letter said, Tsengwa will take appropriate legal action against Stander and Knysna United.
Tsengwa directed Knysna-Plett Herald to his attorney for comment, however, Bulabula declined to elaborate, saying, "We will respond to Stander or his attorney."
Stander confirmed receiving the letter from Tsengwa's lawyers and said he will be seeking legal advice on the matter.
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