The North Gauteng High Court has dismissed a case against ANC veteran Dr Mathews Phosa, which included serious allegations of harassment, unlawful surveillance, and manipulation of the legal and media systems.

Earlier this week, the court rejected a claim brought by Jan Hendrik Stephanus Venter, who described himself as a former employee of Phosa. Venter sought R25 million in damages for alleged emotional trauma, reputational harm, and ongoing threats to his safety and dignity.

On Tuesday, Judge Amien J ruled in favour of Phosa, with no order as to costs.

Speaking to IOL on Thursday, Phosa said he would not dignify Venter with a response, stating that the matter lacked relevance. He added that he had previously warned Venter, who is currently serving a jail sentence in Pretoria.

“My comment is no comment. I will not give this matter any relevance, because there’s no relevance at all,” said Phosa.

In an urgent application filed with the court, Venter detailed what he described as a pattern of malicious conduct. In his founding affidavit, he recounted an incident that he claimed marked the start of this behaviour.

“Before a meeting at the offices of Phosa’s colleague, Ulrich Roux, I was taken into a bathroom and forced to strip naked under the pretext that I might have been wearing surveillance devices,” he stated in the court papers.

“I was in tears, traumatised and emotionally destroyed. Others saw my condition in the boardroom immediately afterwards, including Mr Roux.”

Venter claimed that despite laying criminal charges against a second respondent, the case went nowhere, which he attributed to Phosa’s alleged legal connections and influence.

He further accused Phosa of orchestrating damaging media campaigns, including arranging for legal papers to be served on him while he was incarcerated. He alleged this was done to falsely implicate him in a defamation case linked to the book Predator Politics.

He also claimed that Phosa facilitated the publication of an article that falsely described him as a “secret weapon” in Phosa’s legal battles — a portrayal he called a “malicious manipulation of facts” designed to discredit him.

“Only Dr Phosa could have supplied that false information to the journalist, as I had no access to media or communications while incarcerated,” Venter alleged.

Additionally, Venter said Phosa made unfulfilled promises of financial and legal support, which he believed formed part of a pattern of betrayal and exploitation.

“I have lost all income, assets and savings; I cannot find meaningful employment due to the reputational damage. I have been left without food, transport, housing security or medication,” he said, adding that his mental health had severely deteriorated as a result.

IOL News

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