In a stunning courtroom showdown, controversial South African blogger Musa Khawula has been slapped with a 30-day jail sentence after the High Court in Johannesburg ruled him in contempt for spreading false divorce rumors about EFF leader Julius Malema and his wife, Mantoa Malema.
The drama unfolded on Monday when Judge Denise Fisher delivered her verdict, condemning Khawula’s “reckless and defamatory” social media posts. Khawula, known for his no-holds-barred celebrity gossip on platforms like X (formerly Twitter), alleged last month that the power couple was heading for splitsville amid whispers of infidelity and financial woes. These claims, which went viral and racked up thousands of shares, painted Malema’s marriage as crumbling under political pressure.
Malema, 44, and Mantoa, a prominent businesswoman, swiftly denied the rumors, calling them “malicious fabrications” designed to tarnish their family image. Their lawyers argued the posts violated a prior court interdict barring Khawula from publishing unverified personal attacks on the couple. “This is not journalism; it’s character assassination,” Malema’s advocate Thulani Mdluli told the court.
Judge Fisher agreed, describing Khawula’s actions as a “blatant disregard for justice.” She suspended the sentence for 30 days, giving the blogger a chance to purge his contempt by issuing a public apology and retracting the posts. Failure to comply means immediate incarceration.
Khawula, unrepentant outside court, dismissed the ruling as “EFF bullying tactics.” “Truth hurts, and Malema can’t handle it,” he posted to his followers.
Legal experts warn this case sets a precedent for social media accountability in South Africa, where gossip blogs thrive on scandal. Malema hailed the judgment as a win for privacy rights, vowing to pursue further damages.
As the 30-day clock ticks, South Africans watch: Will Khawula back down, or face the bars?