Rulani Mokwena faces legal action from TS Galaxy over defamatory remarks

TS Galaxy have filed a lawsuit against Mamelodi Sundowns coach Rulani Mokwena for allegedly making defamatory comments against their coach Sead Ramovic. 

The legal action stems from Mokwena’s post-match interview following a 3-0 defeat to Sundowns in April, where he accused Ramovic of instructing his players to injure Sundowns midfielder Bongani Zungu.

Mokwena’s accusations were made in the context of Zungu being taken off the pitch with an injury after a tackle that resulted in a red card for TS Galaxy player Orebotse Mongae. 

Zungu has not played for Sundowns since. Mokwena claimed to have received information that Ramovic had encouraged his players to intentionally harm Zungu, citing a similar incident that led to a serious injury for another player last year.

TS Galaxy has now taken the matter to the High Court, seeking legal recourse for the alleged defamation of their coach. The case is expected to attract significant attention in the South African football community.

According to SABC Sport, a copy of the High Court summons confirms TS Galaxy and Sead Ramovic as plaintiffs and Rulani Mokwena as the defendant. The lawsuit echoes the demands made in an earlier letter from TS Galaxy, requesting a public apology from Mokwena for comments he made in a post-match interview on April 29th.

TS GALAXY’S INITIAL DEMAND FOR RETRACTION AND APOLOGY FROM RULANI MOKWENA 

“The impugning statements comprise untrue and defamatory statements pertaining to the Club and is indeed per se defamatory of the Club, its players, Head Coach, technical team, players, staff and management as well as its supporters,” read the document sent by Galaxy to Sundowns and Mokwena last month.

“In the circumstances, we are instructed to demand, as we hereby do, that Mr. Mokwena and, by extension, Sundowns immediately retract the impugning statements, and publish an unconditional, prominent and appropriate public apology (in the terms agreed to by the Club) in both videographic and written forms, which should be prominently published on all prominent football social and other media platforms (including that of Sundowns), be it print and/or electronic.” 

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