The South African Grain Farmers’ Association (Sagra) has sued four farmers for R2.4 million after they turned to Food For Mzansi with allegations of financial irregularities by the organisation’s top brass.
In a combined summons document issued by the Bloemfontein High Court, Sagra chief executive Ismael Tshiame and chairperson Tebeho Mongoato say two articles by Food For Mzansi contained allegations which are “wrongful and defamatory” and “malicious and/or slanderous”.
The articles in question are “Black farmer rift deepens: Sagra boss lambasted” and “Sagra may drag ill-disciplined farmers to court.”
The farmers being dragged to court are Sagra’s Free State district chairpersons Mkambi Maloka, Johannes Matsole, Lifakana Lephatoa and Frans Matsholo. Their intention, argues Tshiame and Mongoato, was to discourage funders, “bring down operations … to an abrupt halt”, and have them viewed as “scum of the industry”.
Furthermore, the defendants are asked to apologise and retract their earlier media statements while Food For Mzansi is sued to publish said apology. In the court document, Food For Mzansi head of news Duncan Masiwa is listed as the sixth defendant.
In a media release, Maloka, Matsole, Lephatsoa and Matsholo alleged that Mokete and Mongoato were milking private and public resources to enrich themselves and that they were allegedly involved in dodgy input procurements for grain farmers, and unable to present certain financial statements.
Food For Mzansi subsequently reached out to Mongoato for comment on these allegations. Initially, he said that he was not available to respond to the publication’s questions. When probed, Mongoato confirmed in a follow-up article that Sagra was seeking legal counsel on the matter.
According to Mongoato, Sagra’s top executive refused to be drawn into public spats with “ill-disciplined members.” These members were allegedly soliciting public sympathy in an effort to discredit them in public, and in front of its members and funders.
“Sagra is not, by any means, oblivious to the modus operandi of these members. It notes the defamatory utterances… levelled against the CEO and the chairperson of Sagra in their personal capacities,” Mongoato said.
When asked by Food For Mzansi about the validity of the allegations that Mongoato and Tshiame benefitted financially from Sagra funds, Mongoato said that they were remunerated according to Sagra’s approved framework.
Lephatoa told Food For Mzansi that despite the summons, they do not intend issuing an apology to Mongoato and Tshiame. According to the summons notice, they should do this within ten days after receiving the court documents, failing which further legal action will be taken.
- Food For Mzansi co-founders Ivor Price and Kobus Louwrens say the publication has noted the summons delivered to its offices. In the Sagra coverage, the audi alteram partem (“let the other side be heard”) rule has been applied. While Food For Mzansi remains open to publishing the farmers’ apology, should it be made, the publication will continue to practice journalism without fear or favour.
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