GOOD Statement by Brett Herron,
GOOD Secretary-General & Member of Parliament
23 June 2022
The GOOD Party has briefed its lawyers to sue the DA and its new employee Shaun August for defamation.
August was recently expelled from the GOOD Party, together with then-Deputy Mayor of Witzenberg, Felicity Klazen, after they were exposed for engaging in sordid behaviour totally unbecoming of public representatives. In addition, August was found guilty by the party of financial misconduct.
August challenged his expulsion in the high court, but the application was dismissed with costs. Despite his conduct and failed challenge, August was immediately employed by the DA. Together, they wasted no time hatching a plot to falsely accuse GOOD of not declaring donor funds.
In order to lend the story a pretense of credibility – which enabled its publication in a Sunday newspaper, as a platform for onward trafficking by the DA on social media – August was required to depose an affidavit to the IEC containing fibs and misinformation.
This was a big mistake. He not only lied, but he lied under oath. The lies are deeply damaging to GOOD’s reputation, and that of its leaders. Now, August and the DA must back up their claims or face the consequences of substantial claims for damages.
For the record, GOOD has never received a donation remotely close to the magnitude of the R900 000 that August claims, and has accurately accounted for all the donations that it has received.
Telling lies about political opponents, and then settling the legal costs that are incurred as a consequence, because you have the money to do so, is a despicable political strategy.
In the run-up to the last general election, in the months leading to GOOD’s establishment, the DA was repeatedly forced by the courts to retract lies about GOOD Leader Patricia de Lille, so there’s a strong sense of déjà vu.
GOOD has therefore instructed its lawyers to demand a quantum of damages from August and the DA sufficient to dissuade the DA from returning to its strategy of lying ahead of next year’s elections.
Media Enquiries:
Brett Herron, GOOD Secretary-General & Member of Parliament
Cell: 082 518 3264
Email: bretth@forgood.org.za
Janke Tolmay, GOOD Media Manager
Cell: 073 367 1223
Email: janke@forgood.org.za