The University of South Africa (Unisa) notes and welcomes the judgement of the Pretoria High Court, issued on 22 January 2026, in the application brought before it by Mr Tebogo Letsie, the Chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Higher Education.
The Court has found that the allegations made and repeated by Mr Simamkele Xani that Mr Letsie was awarded a security tender by Unisa and its Principal and Vice-Chancellor are false, unlawful and defamatory; and they impugn his good name and dignity.
The Court has accordingly interdicted and restrained Mr Xani from publishing, republishing, disseminating or causing to be published or disseminated in any form, or on any platform, the allegation that the Principal and Vice-Chancellor of Unisa awarded a security tender in the amount of R82 million to Mr Letsie.
The university reiterates its position that no such tender was ever awarded to Mr Letsie or any individual or entity; and that continued peddling of such a falsehood not only impugns his good name and dignity, but that of the university and its Principal and Vice-Chancellor as well.
The university reserves its right and will not hesitate to hold any person peddling false information about itself and its officials, legally accountable.
Publish date: 2026-01-24 00:00:00.0