Pigg’s Peak: Ntfonjeni Member of Parliament, Sifiso “Sompisi” Magagula is involved in a messy lawsuit with Bhekithemba Dlamini, a businessman who owns two major bars in the town. Dlamini is suing Magagula E 1 million for defamation of character.
The lawsuit comes after an article appeared in a local newspaper in which Magagula alleged that there was an assassination plot against him without specifying who the purported assassin was. This occurred after Sifiso Magagula won the 2018 elections.
It is not clear what it is about the allegation that prompted Dlamini to suspect that Magagula was referring to him, but he then approached the High Court of Eswatini and laid a charge of defamation against Magagula. The matter has been deliberated in the court for four years and as the proceedings continued it became obvious that Magagula was not referring to Dlamini in his assassination allegations.
Upon realizing that his blunder could lead to Magagula counter suing him Dlamini then opted to withdraw his case from the court. The case which has seen up to nine witnesses including four police officers taking the stand has now accumulated a bill of more than E 500 000.00
Dlamini has since requested a meeting with his adversary in which he intends to apologize. However, it would appear that Magagula is not prepared to avail himself. Dlamini is also seeking the newspaper that has been reporting the matter during the course of four years to foot the cost of his lawsuit.
Reliable sources claim that in May 2020, Magagula approached the local newspaper and demanded a retraction. He was told that a retraction would only be made after the case was concluded in court. After all these shenanigans, Dlamini is now seeking forgiveness from Magagula in order to avoid being countersued.
When reached for comment Magagula’s attorney Skhumbuzo Magagula confirmed that a meeting had been scheduled at Ntfongeni between both Magagula and the beleaguered Dlamini. According to MP, Sifiso Magagula there is a meeting between himself and Bhekithemba Dlamini scheduled for November 24, 2021.
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