Kenny Kunene claims Julius Malema had close ties with notorious taxi boss Mswazi and KT Molefe

Patriotic Alliance (PA) deputy leader Kenny Kunene has alleged that EFF leader Julius Malema maintained close personal ties with the late notorious taxi boss Jotham “Mswazi” Msibi and Katiso “KT” Molefe. These claims were made during a podcast interview, which subsequently led to a defamation lawsuit initiated by Malema.

In his legal challenge, Malema sought R1 million in damages, arguing that Kunene’s assertions—which included claims that Malema was beholden to Msibi and involved in a so-called “Big Five” cartel—were defamatory and damaging to his reputation. Malema specifically disputed allegations that he would leave businessman Adriano Mazzotti’s property at night to meet with Msibi.

Kenny Kunene says Julius Malema was in the cycle of the late notorious taxi boss Mswazi and Katiso Molefe as close friends.

The defamation case faced significant procedural hurdles. In June 2026, the Johannesburg High Court struck the matter from the roll after Malema’s legal team failed to file the necessary affidavits within the prescribed timeframes. Following the collapse of the case, Kunene publicly criticized Malema, labeling him a hypocrite for attempting to use the courts to silence political speech while frequently making similar remarks about others.