By: Bianca “BB” Binase
Patriotic Alliance (PA) leader Gayton McKenzie and his second-in-command Kenny Kunene have dragged controversial politician Mehmet Vefa Dag and alleged journalist Chanon Merricks to court for defamatory social media campaign.
The matter is set to be heard in the Western Cape High Court on Tuesday (14 October).
According to the court papers which Africa News Global has seen, the lawsuit came after Vefa Dag, president of Truth and Solidarity Movement and “journalist” Merricks launched “a deliberate and malicious defamation campaign on social media (X/Twitter) in which they accuse Mckenzie and Kunene of serious crimes including murder, conspiracy to commit
murder, corruption, assault, and tender fraud, as well as being linked to organized crime”.
In their application, McKenzie and Kunene argue that the allegations are false, defamatory, and made with malice. The duo also argue that the attacks cause irreparable harm to their dignity, reputation, and ability to perform their public duties. McKenzie and Kunene argue that the matter is urgent, “as the defamatory publications are ongoing and escalating despite a formal letter of demand being issued”.
McKenzie and Kunene maintain that the allegations undermine not only their personal integrity but also public confidence in government institutions, given their senior political roles. The pair seek relief in the form of an urgent interim interdict restraining the after Mehmet Vefa Dag and Chanon Merricks from publishing or disseminating defamatory allegations, “with costs sought against the respondents on an attorney and own client scale”.
Africa News Global understands that McKenzie and Kunene further intend filing for defamation of character lawsuit totalling millions of rands against Dan and Merricks.
