Kenny Kunene, deputy president of the Patriotic Alliance (PA) and former “King of Sushi,” is facing a R2.5 million lawsuit from Zimbabwean businessman Isaac Chalumbira. The legal action stems from statements Kunene made during a live TV interview last year, where he accused Chalumbira of being involved in illegal activities, specifically running a cross-border bus operation at Johannesburg’s Park Station. Chalumbira claims that these allegations, which he says linked him to organized crime, have severely damaged his reputation.
This lawsuit is the latest in a string of legal issues for Kunene. Recently, he denied defaming Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema, who filed a defamation case against Kunene for claiming Malema was involved in illegal tobacco sales and drug dealings. Kunene defended his comments as “political commentary,” asserting they were based on publicly available information.
As the lawsuits pile up, Kunene continues to stand by his remarks, but the legal battles highlight the risks of public statements that blur the line between opinion and defamation.
