Attorney Rupert Candy has issued a stern warning to IOL, demanding the immediate retraction of all allegations linking the X account of Goolam to KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) lecturer Mohammed Vawda.
Failure to comply by the close of business today will result in an urgent High Court application being filed against the publication.
In a letter of demand addressed to Independent Media, PTY LTD, and Lindiwe Sisulu, Candy detailed the false and defamatory nature of the claims made against his client, Mohammed Yacoob Vawda. The letter outlines the following key points:
- False Publication: On July 15, 2024, IOL’s official X account posted a publication claiming to unveil the person behind the @goolammv account, identifying Vawda with his full name, age, location, occupation, and photograph.
- Defamatory Press Conference: The same day, IOL’s YouTube account published a press conference video, also shared on X, where harmful statements were made about Vawda. The video has since been removed from YouTube but remains available on X.
- Allegations of Harmful Activities: During the press conference, Vawda was falsely accused of being behind a notorious X account and linked to disinformation campaigns, major political parties, and several government departments.
- Impact on Vawda: The defamatory statements have led to significant harm for Vawda, including racist harassment, threats to his life, and damage to his professional reputation. He and his family have had to move to a secure location due to death threats.
- Demands for Retraction and Apology: Candy demands an unconditional retraction and apology from IOL, to be published on all platforms where the false statements were made or promoted. This includes a live press conference with the relevant speakers publicly retracting and apologizing.
“Your conduct amounts to a blatant, reckless, and disgraceful act of disinformation and character assassination,” Candy wrote. “You must urgently do everything in your power to limit the damage you have caused.”