Pretoria – One of the three people cited for defamation by the University of South Africa (UNISA), Mogaile Mogashoa, has been arrested and is serving time in prison for contempt of court regarding an order that prohibited him from spreading falsehoods about the institution.
Last month, UNISA won a defamation case against Mogashoa, Mandisa Mashego, and Simamkele Xani, who were found to be spreading falsehoods about the university, the Principal and Vice-Chancellor Professor Puleng LenkaBula, the Executive Director: Facilities Management Feresane Sibeko, as well as other officials.
In particular, UNISA had complained to the courts that on several occasions, Mogashoa “spread lies” about the institution and its management, including the Principal and Vice-Chancellor.
Some of the false statements he has made are that UNISA was a “cooldrink place” (coded language for bribery) and that the principal and vice-chancellor illicitly move money from South Africa to Lesotho.
The University successfully filed an application for defamation and interdicted him and the other two – Mashego and Xani – from continuing to spread falsehoods about it and its officials.
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However, Mogashoa contravened the order and continued spreading further falsehoods, and as a result, the court has issued a warrant of arrest against him.
Commenting on Mogashoa’s predicament on Friday, 6 March 2026, UNISA said: “The university takes note of the latest update that Mr. Mogashoa has since been apprehended and is currently serving a six-month sentence in prison”.
