The University of South Africa has welcomed a series of high court judgments against Mogaila Mogashoa, Mandisa Mashego and Simamkele Xani, describing the rulings as a decisive stand against what it calls a sustained campaign of defamatory attacks on the institution and its leadership.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the university confirmed that separate applications were brought before the courts in response to statements made by the three individuals. The institution said the judgments affirm its commitment to protecting its reputation and that of its officials.
In the case involving Mogashoa, the court found that he had made false and damaging claims about the university and its management, including allegations that the institution was a “cooldrink place” and that the Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Puleng LenkaBula, was illicitly moving money to Lesotho. The university obtained an interdict preventing him from repeating the claims. After he allegedly defied the order and continued making similar statements, the court issued a warrant of arrest for contempt.
Mandisa Mashego was also found guilty of defamation by the Johannesburg High Court. According to the ruling, Mashego made what the court described as unjustified and unsubstantiated statements that the university was under investigation for fake degrees, people writing examinations on behalf of others, corruption and other irregularities.
The court ordered Mashego to pay R550 000 in damages, with interest accruing at the prescribed legal rate from the date of demand until final payment. The university said the judgment sends a strong message that public platforms cannot be used to circulate allegations without evidence.
Mashego’s comments were made during an interview on a podcast, where she sharply criticised the institution. In the interview, she said: “What rescues them is this veneer of credibility but UNISA currently is being investigated for fake degrees, for people who sit and write exams for others, or even the entire curriculum. One of the big things is that UNISA is a distance learning university, and it was invented by the apartheid government, or created by them. But now UNISA is no longer a distance learning university. UNISA now has got actual classes operating squarely and outside of their mandate. Any government entity must operate according to the law, which is an act that governs it.”
The university has rejected these claims in court, arguing that they are false and defamatory.
In a separate matter, Simamkele Xani was found in contempt of a prior court order issued on 27 November 2024 by the North Gauteng High Court, which had interdicted him from publishing false or misleading statements about the university and Professor LenkaBula.
The Pretoria High Court ruled that Xani must face 60 days’ incarceration or alternatively pay a fine of R50 000. The sentence has been suspended on condition that he does not breach the original order. The court further interdicted him from disseminating defamatory statements similar to correspondence dated 26 November 2025, 2 December 2025 and 3 December 2025.
Xani was also directed to retract the statements made through his attorneys and via email, and to issue a written apology to the university and Professor LenkaBula within 48 hours of the order. He was ordered to pay legal costs on a party-to-party scale.
In a related application, Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Higher Education chairperson Teboho Letsie obtained an urgent interdict after Xani alleged that Letsie had been granted an R82 million security tender by the university. The court found the allegation to be false and interdicted Xani from repeating it.
University spokesperson Professor Boitumelo Senokoane said the institution hopes the judgments will deter individuals and organisations from spreading fabricated claims. Senokoane reiterated that while the university supports legitimate whistle-blowing, it will act decisively against those who tarnish its name with falsehoods.
