By: Natasha Archary

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana demands businessman Mthunzi Mdwaba withdraw the R500 million bribery allegations that he made within 7-days.
Failure to do so will result in Godongwana’s legal team proceeding with further action against the Thuja Holdings CEO, who implicated the Finance Minister as well as three other ANC heavyweights in soliciting a 10% kickback from a project his company fronted.
During a television interview on Newzroom Afrika on 07 November, Mdwaba stated that Godongwana gave permission for the criminal scheme in which a bribe of R500 million was solicited to three members of Cabinet, and Fikile Mbalula the ANC Secretary General.
On Thursday, 09 November, Mbalula laid Crimen Injuria charges against the CEO of the Holding Company.
Mbalula says that Mdwaba is reportedly under investigation by the Department of Labour and Employment for attempting to redirect funds from South Africans to his own private company.
Godongwana’s legal team emailed Mr Mthunzi Perry-Mason Mdwaba on Wednesday, 08 November calling the statements he made during the interview false, malicious and defamatory.
“The allegation is false, malicious and defamatory. It diminishes the standing and reputation of our client and suggests that he is corrupt, a person of low morals, and is prepared to sacrifice a Cabinet responsibility for personal benefit.
When you made these statements, you were aware that they were false or alternatively you were reckless in failing to ascertain the veracity of the allegations before publishing them on television.
You intended that the statements should defame our client, and you knew that the statements would be understood by the public to mean that our client is corrupt, and is not to be trusted in his responsibility as the Minister of Finance.
You are now required to publicly retract the statements made concerning our client within 7-days of receipt of this letter. You are also required to publicly apologize to our client for recklessly making the false accusations against him.
If you do not do so, our client will institute legal proceedings against you without further notice.”
Enoch Godongwana’s legal team, Rudolph Baloyi demands Mthunzi Mdwaba to retract statements made against the Minister
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