Johannesburg – Minister of Minerals and Petroleum Resources Gwede Mantashe has approached the Johannesburg High Court in an urgent bid to silence self-proclaimed mining rights activist Zakhele Zuma, claiming that Zuma's allegations of theft have placed him and his family in danger. Mantashe, who also serves as the national chairperson of the African National Congress (ANC), alleges that Zuma's repeated claims that he stole R40 million from mineworkers have incited threats and hateful remarks against him and his loved ones.
In his court application, Mantashe detailed the distress and fear he is experiencing as a result of Zuma's accusations. "I feel threatened by the people who believe the lies that Mr Zuma is propagating, as they will believe that I took their money," Mantashe stated. He emphasized that the allegations are not only false but also expose him and his family to potential harm, given his proximity to and regular interaction with mining communities.
Mantashe further explained the damaging impact of Zuma's claims on his professional life and reputation. "As a minister of one of the most important departments, these spurious and defamatory allegations have created a bad atmosphere and a level of distrust among officials and the stakeholders," he said. He argued that the allegations undermine his ability to effectively perform his duties and maintain the confidence of key players in the mining sector.
The minister also shared the personal toll the allegations have taken on his family. "My family are also suffering because of these allegations, as they are seen as people who benefit from the alleged stolen money," Mantashe stated. He said his family members are being subjected to abuse and accused of benefiting from ill-gotten gains, adding to the emotional distress caused by the situation.
Mantashe highlighted the online abuse he has endured since the allegations surfaced. "Since these allegations came to light, I have been subjected to abuse by X users who believe the allegations that are being made by Mr Zuma," he said, referring to the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. He provided examples of hateful and threatening comments he has received, illustrating the severity of the online harassment.
"My family and I are being abused and accused of theft by the public. I have received threats from certain sections of the public arising directly from the allegations made by Mr Zuma," Mantashe asserted. He emphasized that the allegations are causing severe harm to his reputation and dignity, as well as that of his family. "I am suffering daily abuse because a perception has been created that I have stolen from the miners," he added.
Mantashe also expressed concern that Zuma's actions are creating unnecessary panic among investors and other stakeholders, potentially undermining the ANC and the government's ability to manage their affairs effectively. "Due to the sensitivity of the office that I hold, Zuma’s statements created unnecessary panic among investors in the country and other stakeholders, which has a negative effect on the ability of both the ANC and the government to manage their affairs," he explained.
In response to Zuma's continued dissemination of the allegations, Mantashe has taken legal action. "In view of the impact that the continuing conduct of Mr Zuma is having on my dignity, my family, and the offices I hold, I decided to lay a criminal charge of crimen injuria against Mr Zuma at Brooklyn," he said.
Despite the criminal charge, Mantashe claims that Zuma has not ceased his campaign of spreading misinformation. "Following the criminal charge against Mr Zuma, Mr Zuma decided to publish another video in which he is seen responding to my statement," Mantashe stated. He cited a video published by Zuma on June 10, 2010, in which he allegedly repeated the same allegations. (It is likely that this date is a typo, and should read June 10, 2025).
"In the video, Mr Zuma is seen at my ANC office in the company of a large group of people. Again, Mr Zuma is seen inciting people and informing them that I am the one who received R40 000 000 from the ERPM mine, which belongs to them," Mantashe stated.
Mantashe's urgent court application seeks to interdict Zuma from making further allegations against him, arguing that Zuma's actions are causing irreparable harm to his reputation, his family's well-being, and the stability of the mining sector. The court will now consider Mantashe's application and determine whether to grant the interdict, potentially setting a precedent for how public figures can protect themselves from defamatory allegations in the age of social media.
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