In a swift and stark reversal, Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) spokesperson Sinawo Thambo has issued a full public apology and retraction to Patriotic Alliance (PA) deputy president Kenny Kunene, defusing a potentially protracted legal battle. The move comes just days after Thambo launched a series of highly personal and damaging social media allegations against the prominent political figure.
The political firestorm ignited between October 8 and 10, 2025, when Thambo used his X (formerly Twitter) account to level serious accusations against Kunene. In a multi-post thread, the EFF spokesperson alleged that Kunene had personally paid the R400,000 bail for Katiso “KT” Molefe, a key suspect in the high-profile 2022 murder of renowned amapiano DJ and entrepreneur Oupa “DJ Sumbody” Sefoka. Thambo further claimed that Kunene was embroiled in “irregular” dealings related to the Rea Vaya bus tender, implicitly linking him to corrupt activities.
The allegations sent shockwaves through South Africa’s political and social circles due to their severity and direct targeting of a senior opposition figure.
Kunene’s response was immediate and unequivocal. His legal representatives dispatched a formidable five-page letter dated October 11, 2025, giving Thambo a strict 48-hour ultimatum. The letter, described by a legal analyst as “comprehensive and uncompromising,” systematically dismantled Thambo’s posts, characterizing them as “defamatory, malicious, and unsubstantiated.” It argued that the statements were calculated to inflict maximum damage on Kunene’s reputation as both a public official and a private businessman, and it demanded a full, public retraction and apology.
Facing the prospect of a costly and reputationally damaging defamation lawsuit, Thambo capitulated. On October 14, he complied with the demands, first by deleting the incendiary posts and then by publishing a concise, unambiguous statement of apology on the same platform where the dispute began. His post read: “I withdraw posts made on 8 and 10 October 2025 about Mr Kenny Kunene and apologise for any harm caused. Ends.”
While the brief apology brought a formal close to the immediate legal threat, it has amplified discussions about the underlying political warfare. The incident is a vivid symptom of the intensifying rivalry between the EFF and the PA, two parties fiercely competing for a similar demographic and political space. Thambo’s initial allegations were widely interpreted as a strategic political attack, and his forced retraction is seen as a significant, if temporary, setback for the EFF’s aggressive communication strategy.
As of now, Kenny Kunene has maintained a strategic silence, choosing not to comment publicly on Thambo’s apology. However, sources close to the PA deputy president indicate that he and his team are “satisfied” with the retraction, viewing it as a clear victory that has successfully neutralized the false narratives and upheld his integrity. The episode serves as a stark reminder of the legal perils and reputational costs that can accompany the high-stakes game of South African political discourse, where a single social media post can trigger a rapid and consequential chain of events.
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