ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula has opened a case against businessman Mthunzi Mdwaba for slandering his name.
Mbalula, accompanied by ANC spokeswoman Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri, opened a case of crimen injuria at Sandton cop shop on Thursday, 9 November.
He said he was exercising his constitutional right to human dignity.
Mdwaba alleged during an interview that Mbalula, Finance Minister Enock Godongwana, Employment and Labour Minister Thulas Nxesi, and a health minister of having approached him with the intention to score a R500 million bribe from the proceeds of a R5 billion deal with the Unemployment Insurance Fund.
He said it had become too easy in the South African political space to tarnish each other with the tag of corruption.
"I have never supported corrupt activities. In fact, I am the first person to stand up in an NEC meeting and point out that we have a Gupta problem. My name will not be associated with corruption, renewal demands of us to take these allegations seriously to a point where we must not tolerate attempts to make light of corruption," he said.
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He said he opened the case because he wanted to make a clear statement on behalf of his family and the ANC that they must encourage those who have evidence of corruption to come forward and when they do, they must be protected.
Mbalula said the allegations violated his individual right to dignity as contained in the country's Constitution.
"I have this morning instructed my lawyers to send a letter of demand to Mdwaba. Should he fail to retract all his malicious and defamatory statements about me, my legal team will approach our courts to compel him and seek appropriate relief," Mbalula said.
Menawhile, Godongwana also sent Mdwaba a letter of demand to publicly withdraw his words within seven days.
"The allegations are false, malicious, and defamatory. It diminishes the standing and reputation of our client and suggests that his is corrupt, a person of low morals and is prepared to sacrifice a cabinet responsibility for personal benefit," said Godongwana.
Police spokesman Colonel Mavela Masondo confirmed that a case was opened.
"We can confirm that a case of defamation of character was opened at Sandton Police Station on Thursday, 9 November. The case has been transferred to Gauteng provincial investigation unit for further investigation," Masondo said.
