Helen Zille Speaks Out On Why She Will Not Apologise To Julius Malema Following Legal Letter

Democratic Alliance Johannesburg mayoral candidate Helen Zille says she will not apologise to Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema over allegations she made about his influence in the City of Johannesburg.

The dispute followed comments Zille made in an eNCA interview about former Johannesburg mayor Herman Mashaba’s time in office. Zille alleged that Malema had influenced decisions in the city, including the appointment of Shadrack Sibiya to an anti-corruption role and the handling of a fleet tender. The allegations have not been established in court.

Malema’s lawyers sent Zille a formal demand seeking a retraction and public apology. They described her remarks as false and defamatory and warned that legal action could follow if she did not comply by close of business on Wednesday, 11 November.

Zille responded on X that she would not apologise. Her team directed media inquiries to that response, while the DA mayoral candidate maintained that her claims were true.

The EFF’s legal demand seeks more than an apology. It calls for Zille to retract her statements, publish a formal public statement and undertake not to repeat the allegations. The letter also requires that the proposed statement be submitted to the EFF for approval before publication.

The EFF has said it is prepared to take the matter to court if Zille does not comply. The party’s national spokesperson described the remarks as unsubstantiated and said the lawyers would proceed with further action if there was no apology.

At the centre of the dispute are Zille’s claims about Malema’s role in city decisions during Mashaba’s mayoralty. She alleged that Malema directed the appointment of Sibiya and influenced decisions involving City Power and a fleet tender. Malema’s lawyers argue that the statements damaged his reputation and were made to cause political harm.

The matter adds a legal confrontation to the political contest surrounding Johannesburg’s municipal leadership. Zille is the DA’s mayoral candidate, while Malema leads the EFF, a party that has been an influential player in coalition politics in the city.

The accusations remain contested. Zille has stood by her claims, while Malema’s legal team has demanded their withdrawal. The available reports do not indicate that a court has ruled on the truth of the allegations or on whether they amount to defamation.

With the deadline set for Wednesday, the next step will depend on whether Malema’s lawyers proceed with legal action. If they do, the dispute could move from political statements and formal demands to a court process examining the claims and their potential impact on Malema’s reputation.

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