Deputy South Defence Minister Kebby Maphatsoe may have to cough up R1 million in damages if a case building up in court goes against him.
Former ANC intelligence chief Ronnie Kasrils filed the in the Pretoria High Court claiming the amount for alleged “false and derogatory statements”
Maphatsoe at a press conference before the last general elections had accused Kasril of premeditatively “ setting up President Jacob Zuma for a rape charge” of which he was discharged in 2006.
Maphatsoe alleged Kasrils “handpicked” the woman who later accused Zuma of rape, and “sent” her to lay the charge. He made the remarks at a press briefing before last year’s elections.
Kasrils said Maphatsoe had accused him of improper conduct when he was intelligence head of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the ANC armed wing.
At the time the allegations were made, Kasrils was one of the leaders of a campaign to encourage the public to vote against the ANC or spoil their ballot.
According to court papers, Kasrils said Maphatsoe had not complied with a previous request to provide proof of his allegations or apologise.
The High Court in Johannesburg found Zuma not guilty of the rape charge in May 2006