Court orders deactivation of ex-MPs Facebook account
The Limpopo High Court (Polokwane) has ordered that former ANC MP Boy Mamabolo’s Facebook account be deactivated and that he refrain from publishing defamatory statements against Polokwane Mayor John Mpe and his family.
Acting Judge Suné du Plessis ordered that Mamabolo must not post or publish any photographs or videos of Mpe and his family members on WhatsApp, Facebook, X, Instagram or any other social media platform.
The Mail & Guardian reports that he further prohibited Mamabolo from ‘harassing, sending messages, or contacting the applicant to threaten and intimidate him in any manner, whether directly or indirectly’.
Du Plessis also ordered that the Facebook account under the name Boy Mamabolo Fans (Bua Kolobe) be permanently deactivated and/or deleted.
Facebook SA (Pty) Ltd and/or any other person with regulatory control over the said Facebook account has been authorised to give effect to this order.
Mamabolo was also ordered to pay the costs of the application.
The ruling comes after Mpe approached the court, claiming that Mamabolo had accused him and ANC provincial secretary Vhamusanda Madhadze of manipulating the Limpopo parliamentary list, resulting in Mamabolo not being sent to Parliament by the party.
Mamabolo alleged that he had been nominated by various branches in accordance with the ANC’s constitution and electoral rules, and had received sufficient nominations for his name to be included on the provincial-to-national list for Limpopo.
The M&G notes that he has since taken the party to court and the matter is due to be heard in the Gauteng High Court (Johannesburg) on 1 September.
WhatsApp messages presented in court showed that Mamabolo had threatened to hire a hitman to kill Mpe and Madhadze, saying he does not ‘forgive people who take bread away from his table’.
On 22 March 2024, Mamabolo allegedly published false information about the cancellation of Mpe’s annual marathon and music festival at Ga-Molepo with the aim of undermining the event.
It took place the following day but Mpe said this caused a financial loss because many believed the event had been cancelled.
Article disclaimer: While we have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of this article, it is not intended to provide final legal advice as facts and situations will differ from case to case, and therefore specific legal advice should be sought with a lawyer.
