African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) president Thlologelo Collen Malatji has welcomed a High Court judgment in his favour in a defamation case against columnist Vladimir Modiba, saying the ruling reaffirms the importance of truth and responsible public discourse. Malatji approached the court to seek an order to seek an interdict against Modiba. This after Modiba took to social media on May 5 2026 and posted remarks which inferred that Malatji is corrupt and was linked to malfeasance in Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality.
“If you want to understand the mess in Ekurhuleni and corrupt companies that are benefiting in the city, please do a lifestyle audit of the President of the ANCYL Collen Malatjie (sic),” he alleged.
The Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg delivered judgment on 28 May 2026, finding that allegations made against Malatji by Modiba were false, defamatory and unlawful.
Reacting to the ruling, Malatji said the matter was never about shielding himself from criticism or avoiding public scrutiny.
“As a public representative and political leader, I fully appreciate that public office bearers are subject to robust debate, criticism and accountability. These are important features of our constitutional democracy,” he said.
Malatji, however, argued that there is a clear distinction between legitimate criticism and the publication of false allegations presented as facts without supporting evidence.
He said he approached the court because he believed it was necessary to protect the truth and challenge what he described as a growing trend of misinformation and reckless accusations on social media platforms.
Malatji said he was encouraged by the court’s affirmation that freedom of expression cannot be used as a licence to spread falsehoods or damage the reputation of others through unsubstantiated claims.
“The judgment serves as an important reminder that rights must be exercised responsibly and that those who make serious allegations must be prepared to substantiate them with credible evidence,” he said.
According to Malatji, the court conclusively found that the allegations levelled against him were unsupported by admissible evidence, despite repeated public claims that proof would be produced.
He said the court ordered Modiba to remove the defamatory publications and directed him to pay legal costs on the attorney-and-client scale.
Malatji said the costs order underscored the seriousness with which the court viewed the matter.
He expressed hope that the judgment would contribute positively to broader discussions around accountability, ethical conduct and responsible public discourse in both political and social spaces.
“I hope this judgment serves as a lesson that social media cannot be used irresponsibly to spread unverified accusations and misinformation. Freedom of expression is a constitutional right, but it carries with it a responsibility to tell the truth and to act within the bounds of the law,” he said.
Malatji added that South Africa’s democracy is strengthened when disputes are resolved through facts, evidence and the rule of law rather than misinformation and personal attacks.
He said he remained committed to serving the youth of South Africa and promoting a political culture rooted in honesty, accountability and respect for democratic institutions.