Court dismisses Malusi Gigaba's bid to silence ex-wife Norma Mngoma on Showmax

An attempt by former Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba to prevent his ex-wife's tell-all Showmax interview has been dismissed.

Judge Julian Yende dismissed an interdict application by the scandal-ridden Gigaba on Wednesday. Gigaba had sought to prevent MultiChoice and Showmax from airing a tell-all "Untied" episode featuring his ex-wife, Norma Mngoma.

Showmax is expected to release a statement on the verdict and when the episode will be aired on the platform.

“Untied,” hosted by award-winning media personality Relebogile Mabotja, dives into the often messy, always emotional world of divorce, told through the eyes of famous South African women who’ve been through it all.

Mngoma’s interview delves into the turbulent aspects of their marriage, including allegations of infidelity, pornography addiction, and misuse of public funds, which have raised significant public interest and concern.

In the application, MultiChoice is cited as the first respondent, while Goat Originals, which produced the show, is the second respondent, and Mngoma is the third.

Gigaba's legal action came after he received a WhatsApp communication from Vanessa Tloubatla, the executive producer of the show, who wanted to give him the right to reply to allegations that were made against him.

Gigaba said that upon receiving the email, he sought legal advice to evaluate the potential impact of these allegations on his public standing, as he was in the process of rebuilding his name, which was already tainted by past allegations.

Gigaba said that through his attorneys, he requested a copy of the podcast, and he was provided with a summarised version of the interview.

IOL Entertainment