Former Intelligence minister Lindiwe Sisulu has laid a criminal complaint against Goolam Muhammed Suliman Vawda, known on social media as @Goolammv.
Vawda is accused of having used his social media platform to spread hate speech against those opposed to President Cyril Ramaphosa and those in his close circle.
The Star has seen an affidavit which Sisulu has deposed through lawyers JG and Xulu Incorporated, dated July 23, through a Rosebank address of the legal firm.
In the affidavit, the former minister says she has decided to lay criminal charges against Goolam, who has reportedly fled the country after he was unmasked by Independent Media’s investigative journalists.
Sisulu accuses the now-Mauritius based Goolam of hate speech, cyberbullying and crimen injuria spanning more than six years on social media.
“I am an adult female and former Cabinet minister, I am a member of the ANC’s NEC. I am the complainant in this matter and for the purposes of this complaint, I have chosen the address of my attorney, Barnabas Xulu of the JG and Xulu Incorporated.
“In this affidavit, I seek to lay a criminal complaint against a person who on social media goes by the name of Goolammv (Goolam hereinafter) for the crime of cyberbullying under the Protection from Harassment Act 17 of 2010 and the Common Law Crime of crimen injuria.
“In a number of publications on social media, Goolam has used his position on social media to denigrate me by mounting unjustified attacks that are highly defamatory. Goolam uses social media to perpetuate personal attacks that are based on false, derogatory and highly inflammatory language that target my political beliefs and standing,” Sisulu further states.
“In his last post on social media, Vawda indicated that he has left the country following his unmasking as he fears for his life. However, he vowed to continue where he left off once he settles in.”
In his post on X, @Goolammv tweeted: “Because an owner of a media house and another person that I have rightly called out have put a total of R3 million on my head, I have safely left the country. Will reach my final destination country tomorrow which I will call home for a while. I will then continue doing what I was doing. We will go back. Stronger than ever. The Government of National Unity will take care of them.”
“Goolam has labelled me as corrupt and part of state capture despite the fact that I am one of the few Ministers to leave their post honourably,” wrote Sisulu. “ ‘If you are pro corruption, pro state capture and prefer South Africa collapsing you will support Zweli Mkhize, Nkosazana Zuma and Lindiwe Sisulu’,” Goolam said of me.
“One of the first things Zweli Mkhize, NDZ or Lindiwe Sisulu will do if they become president is to disband the Investigating Directorate (ID),” Goolam had tweeted. “Their only aim and objective is to stop the fight against corruption. President Ramaphosa must be fully protected and supported #Renew22. If Lindiwe Sisulu wins ANC elections in December, she will release all jailed for corruption, she will stop all corruption investigations, SA will become a haven for corruption. South Africans must fully support Cyril Ramaphosa against these people.”
“I have suffered arrests, detention without trials and exile fighting for our constitutional democracy,” Sisulu said. “I am a trained soldier of our liberation struggle, having formally received military training and trained as an intelligence officer in the ANC. My training was to engage a system that dehumanised and brutalised South Africans. I am a patriot and would not likely wish to see anyone arrested and charged for expressing their views about me.”
On Monday, a case was registered at the Roodepoort police station against Vawda. The SAPS has confirmed the case. According to sources, the charges were brought forth by a senior media editor, not affiliated with the Independent Media Group.
The people on @Goolammv social media hit list are said to be John Hlophe, former president Jacob Zuma, Iqbal Surve, Julius Malema, Busisiwe Mkhwebane, Zweli Mkhize, Sisulu, Brian Molefe, Bongani Bongo, Ace Magashule, Andile Lungisa and Panyaza Lesufi.
The Star