At the core of the legal battle are allegations involving the EPWP, the luxury Waterfall property, and ongoing corruption claims linked to Tebogo Malaka — allegations that Mashawana strongly denies and says are causing significant public and personal harm.
Dr Collen Mashawana stated in his affidavit: "The article falsely portrays me as a corrupt and dishonest individual engaged in the misappropriation of public funds."Businessman and philanthropist Collen Mashawana has filed an urgent legal application in the * Gauteng High Court * againstand investigative journalist Pieter-Louis Myburgh *, alleging that a recent article published by the outlet constitutes a “reckless, malicious and unfounded” attack on his reputation.
The dispute centres around an article titled Malaka’s Mansion, published on 11 August 2025, which links Mashawana to a luxury R16 million property reportedly under construction for suspended Independent Development Trust CEO Tebogo Malaka. The report claims Mashawana, through his foundation, made at least two payments toward the home, while allegedly benefiting from a R60 million IDT contract to run employment schemes under the Expanded Public Works Programme . In legal papers submitted to the court, Mashawana ''categorically denies'' any involvement in the financing or construction of the property, asserting that the claims are entirely false and misleading. He insists he has never had dealings with the IDT, personally or professionally, and that neither he nor his Collen Mashawana Foundation has ever funded or facilitated the acquisition or development of any property for Malaka. "The article falsely portrays me as a corrupt and dishonest individual engaged in the misappropriation of public funds," Mashawana stated in his affidavit."These allegations are defamatory and have caused *irreparable harm* to my name, my businesses, and the work of my foundation." Particularly contentious is the article’s introductory claim that a “prominent businessman” — later named as Mashawana — made direct payments toward Malaka’s mansion while holding a significant IDT contract. Mashawana disputes the use of the term “funnelled,” describing it as “particularly malicious.” “No funds, whether the alleged R200,000 or any other amount, have ever been paid, transferred, or directed by me or on my behalf into any property or project associated with Ms. Malaka,” he asserted. The application, scheduled for urgent hearing on 26 August 2025, requests that the court grant a ''temporary interdict'' preventingand Myburgh from publishing or repeating allegations linking Mashawana to Malaka, the EPWP contract, or a property known as Waterfall House. He is also seeking a ''takedown order'' to remove existing online content related to the matter and a ''gag order'' preventing discussion of the issue at a monetised public event set for 28 August 2025. Citing Rule 6 of the High Court, Mashawana has asked the court to treat the matter with urgency, bypassing normal procedural requirements due to the serious and immediate reputational damage he claims to be suffering. The businessman also signalled his intention to launch a formal defamation lawsuit within 30 days, seeking a declaration that the contested reports are defamatory in nature and pursuing potential financial damages. At the core of the legal battle are allegations involving the EPWP, the luxury Waterfall property, and ongoing corruption claims linked to Tebogo Malaka — allegations that Mashawana strongly denies and says are causing significant public and personal harm.
Tebogo Malaka Pieter-Louis Myburgh Gauteng High Court Independent Development Trust Defamatory Reckless Collen Mashawana Takes Legal Action Against The Daily Maverick Expanded Public Works Programme Malaka Malaka's Mansion Collen Mashawana Foundation High Court Rule 6 Waterfall Waterfall House
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