Basetsana Kumalo opens up on the devastating effect of Jackie Phamotse’ lies on her family and businesses.
The businesswoman and her husband, Romeo Kumalo appeared at the Randburg Magistrate Court for the sentencing of author Jackie, who was found guilty of crimen injury, defamation and contempt of court.
Probation Officer Xoliswa Budaza from the Gauteng Department of Social Development recommended that Jackie’s sentencing should include a public apology and a R5 000 to R8 000 fine as this was all she could afford.
Basetsana took to the stand to read out her victim’s statement.
“My elder mother-in-law and father-in-law who are here today, have had to live in shame for five years, this lie affecting their church lives and interactions with extended family who read about the utterances of Ms Phamotse in newspapers, getting calls to ask what “is going on.” We stopped being invited to family gatherings and social events,” she said.
“We lost a lot of family and friends at a very low time in our lives, and this also added to the emotional distress and trauma that we had already been going through,” she said.
“My family and I were devastated that our very own friends could share these horrible stories about us, and even more devastating is that some of them believed it. I have three children, Nkosinathi as I said is now 18, Kgosi is 11, and Bontle ba Morena turned nine years old in July. These children have been deprived of a normal and happy childhood because other parents did not want their children around myself and my husband after what Ms Phamotse had tweeted about us.” she continued in her statement.
“We have both worked exceptionally hard over the years to build our brand equity and traded on our good names. I am a brand ambassador for well-known companies in South Africa. I have been in this court 51 times over the last five years, 51 times, for the last three years incurring costs on flights and accommodation.” she said.
“Ms Phamotse’s tweets portrayed my husband as a paedophile and myself as a woman with no values. This caused irreparable harm to our dignity and character in the community.”
