Case against eMalahleni mining activist Mandla Bothman dismissed for lack of urgency

MIDDELBURG — The Mpumalanga High Court has dismissed an urgent application against Mandla Bothman, leader of the Greater eMalahleni Mineral Revolution (GEMR), on the grounds that it lacked urgency.

The ruling was delivered on Tuesday, 14 April 2026, at the Mpumalanga Division of the High Court in Middelburg. The court also ordered that the applicant, Aubrey Tshivandekano, regional manager at the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE), pay legal costs.

Tshivandekano had approached the court on an urgent basis to address what he described as ongoing defamatory remarks and threats allegedly made by Bothman on social media following a protest march led by GEMR at the DMRE offices in eMalahleni on 19 March 2026.

According to the applicant’s legal representatives, Bothman made defamatory remarks, issued threats and directed insults at Tshivandekano on social media platforms. They sought a court order to interdict him from continuing these statements, arguing that they tarnished Tshivandekano’s reputation.

However, the court dismissed the application, stating that the applicant failed to demonstrate urgency. The court further indicated that the allegations against the respondent should first have been reported to the South African Police Service (SAPS) before being pursued through the courts.

GEMR Secretary-General Agrippa Skosana said the ruling marks a significant victory not only for Bothman but for the broader eMalahleni community.

“We are all celebrating this outcome. It is important to remember that this matter arose from residents’ concerns about their lack of participation in the mining industry. We have been engaging the DMRE, seeking guidance on how communities can be involved in mining activities,” he said.

“Following these engagements, accusations of threats emerged. I want to make it clear that we never threatened Aubrey or anyone else. Our intention has always been to participate in the mining sector. Regrettably, our efforts were misinterpreted as hostility, which was never the case. We are simply seeking a seat at the table.”