Trade union Solidarity is taking Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni to court over alleged defamation, after she claimed that Solidarity and its sister organisation AfriForum led misinformation campaigns against South Africa.

The union launched a defamation case against Ntshavheni, with President Cyril Ramaphosa being the second respondent in the case.

Solidarity CE Dr Dirk Hermann said Ntshavheni’s statements were made following the Solidarity Movement’s visit to the US, after President Donald Trump issued an executive order regarding South Africa, which stated that the South African government "has taken aggressive positions towards the United States and its allies" and "egregious actions" on land reform and racial relations.

Hermann said Ntshavheni and government did not provide any evidence of the so-called misinformation, explaining that the Solidarity Movement intervened for South Africa after the government had caused a “diplomatic crisis” with its most important trading partner.

Ntshavheni said that law enforcement agencies were investigating the possibility of a violation of laws.

“The Minister in the Presidency should know better. We can no longer allow senior figures in government to get away with false statements and defamation. They think they can say and do whatever they want without consequences. They want to shift the blame.

“They create a false master narrative that, if repeated enough, eventually becomes the ‘truth’ in people’s minds. They then hide behind this falsehood to cover up their part in the diplomatic crisis with the USA. Solidarity has decided to go to court to bring an end to this false master narrative of misinformation,” Hermann stated.

Hermann reiterated Solidarity’s long-held stance that the African National Congress (ANC) was responsible for the backlash from the US, which resulted in tariff increases imposed on South Africa.

“… it had nothing to do with Solidarity. Solidarity’s major focus during the US tour was the preservation of the AGOA trade agreement,” Hermann explained.

He said the organisation took a stand for its members and South Africans.

“It is our members and ordinary people who are going to lose their jobs. Our documentation focused largely on that, and while it may have exposed uncomfortable truths about the ANC, it was certainly not untrue,” said Hermann.

He repeated that the diplomatic tension between South Africa and the US was solely the responsibility of the ANC.

“Accusing institutions such as Solidarity and AfriForum of misinformation and even treason is false and defamatory,” he added.

In its court documents, Solidarity said it would to donate any damages paid to it to Solidarity Helping Hand to help people in need.