The leader of the group received a letter dated June 22 from the mayor’s lawyers demanding that he retracts alleged defamatory statements he made against the mayor within 24 hours. This comes after the concerned group accused the mayor, PMC’s Abby Ledwaba, and the Ba-Phalaborwa Community Forum of being corrupt and not putting the interests of the people first.

The letter from TTS Attorneys Inc, which the Herald has seen, states that Edwin’s remarks portray the mayor as a dishonest and corrupt individual. The letter reads that they have been instructed to demand that Edwin issue a retraction of the defamatory statements and tender an acceptable apology to the mayor in the same way and manner he has circulated his allegations within 24 hours of receipt thereof.

“Your retraction or withdrawal should be clear and unconditional,” the letter reads. The attorneys further state that Edwin’s failure to withdraw his statement will result in legal proceedings against him without further notice. They say that should legal proceedings are instituted, they will demand a retraction, an apology, and R700 000 from him.

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However, this did not deter Edwin. He told the Herald that he is not retracting any of his statements against the mayor and he cannot be intimidated by lawyers. “We do have all the proof against her, and I will never stop to fight for our community as a whole and I’m not a coward. “Her intimidation from the attorneys made me louder than before.

She abuses her political power to destruct community interest and community resolution, I will remain the voice of Ba-Phalaborwa community members regardless of protecting her individual benefits. Our community suffered a lot and enough is enough,” Edwin stated. Meanwhile PMC stated that the allegations against Ledwaba are defamatory in nature and as a business they take it very serious and does not take it lightly.

“PMC is a law-abiding corporate citizen of Ba-Phalaborwa and if facts are presented to support the wild allegations of corruption, we will have no option, but to take the appropriate action consistent with our disciplinary processes,” said human resource senior manager, Dennis Modise. At the time of going to press the municipality could not be reached for comment.