GOOD councillor Lawrence Troon has been ordered to cough up R130 000 in damages following defamatory statements made against the EFF regional chairperson in Gqeberha, Khanya Ngqisha.
Ngqisha took Troon to court in January on an R800 000 defamation lawsuit, after Troon claimed in a television interview that he had solicited a R1 million bribe for an item to be passed in council.
Troon also went on Facebook and tagged about 98 people, stating the statement as fact.
The court order that ruled in Ngqisha's favour, was delivered on his birthday, on Monday.
In response to his victory, Ngqisha said: "I am happy that the courts have exposed the opportunism of Troon who has always tried to use my name and that of the EFF to gain relevance.
"Now he must pay me R130 000 plus my legal costs.
"He has learnt a hard lesson and I hope in his organisation they discipline him."
Troon said he would go to the Constitutional Court to fight against the judgment.
"Sabelo Nkhulu told me in the presence of others that Khanya wanted R1m to have the item of HIVE approved in the council of 7th December 2023.
"Furthermore, I have evidence where Mr Lunga Limba admitted or said that Sabelo informed him that he (Khanya) wanted a R1 m bribe," he said.
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