PRETORIA – The University of South Africa (Unisa) has welcomed three separate high court judgments against individuals who made defamatory statements about the institution and its management.
The Johannesburg and Pretoria high courts issued rulings against Mogaila Mogashoa, Mandisa Mashego and Simamkele Xani following applications brought by the university for defamation and violation of court orders.
The court issued a warrant of arrest against Mogashoa after he contravened an interdict by continuing to spread false information about Unisa and its officials. He had previously made unsubstantiated claims that Unisa is a “cooldrink place” and that the principal and vice-chancellor illicitly moves money to Lesotho.
Mashego was found guilty of defamation by the Johannesburg High Court and ordered to pay R550 000 plus interest. She had made unjustified statements that Unisa is under investigation for fake degrees, examination fraud, running classes and corruption.
Xani, a former Unisa student, was found in contempt of a court order issued in November 2024 which had interdicted him from making false statements about the university and principal and vice-chancellor Professor Puleng LenkaBula.
The Pretoria High Court ordered that he be incarcerated for 60 days or pay a fine of R50 000. The order was suspended and will only be executed if he breaches the terms of the original interdict.
Xani was also ordered to retract defamatory statements made in November and December 2025 and issue a written apology to Unisa and Professor LenkaBula within 48 hours. He must pay the costs of the application.
In a separate matter, the chairperson of the parliamentary portfolio committee on higher education, Teboho Letsie, obtained an interdict against Xani after he falsely claimed that Unisa had granted Letsie a security tender worth R82 million. Xani was ordered to pay costs.
Sebako Attorneys, who had purportedly represented Xani, withdrew and distanced themselves from him after the orders were made. Unisa said it is considering enforcing the orders as Xani has failed to comply.
Professor Boitumelo Senokoane, Unisa executive director for institutional advancement and spokesperson, said the university hopes the rulings will deter individuals and organisations from making false statements about the institution and its officials.
“The university will investigate and act against anyone, including students and those within its employment, who do anything wrong and unlawful. Whilst we are committed to protecting whistle-blowers, we will not hesitate to take head-on anyone who lies about the university, our council members, officials, employees or students and tarnish the name of the university,” said Senokoane.
