Silence and delays haunt Lindiwe Sisulu’s cyberbullying case against Goolam Vawda
Former minister Lindiwe Sisulu is not happy with the police's failure to make a breakthrough in the case she opened against Goolam Muhammed Suliman Wawda, who used social media to tarnish her image.
Image: Independent Media archives
Gauteng police have failed to provide updates in the social media abuse case opened by former Cabinet minister Lindiwe Sisulu against activist Goolam Vawda, alleged to be behind the controversial X (formerly Twitter) account @goolammv.
Sisulu laid a criminal complaint on 21 July 2024 at the Roodepoort police station, accusing Vawda of cyberbullying, hate speech, and publishing defamatory content targeting her and others via social media.
A year later, there have been no reported arrests or developments.
Independent Media contacted police this week for comment. Police spokesperson Captain Tintswalo Sibeko referred the query to Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi, who, after being provided the case number, said it was incorrect. The same case number had previously been used for media follow-ups.
“The complainant in the case number you provided is not Lindiwe Sisulu. Maybe you gave the wrong case number,” Nevhuhulwi said.
Sisulu’s legal representative, Barnabas Xulu, said there had been no engagement from the police since the complaint was lodged.
“There has never been any development since the case was opened. These guys [police] have disappeared,” he said.
A criminal lawyer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, cited systemic failures in the criminal justice system as contributing factors to delays. These include shortages of police personnel and vehicles, dilapidated infrastructure, and administrative breakdowns.
“Infrastructure damage, inefficient systems, and lack of urgency within the SAPS all contribute to significant delays. Even in functioning facilities, accessing records is a major challenge,” the lawyer said.
In her affidavit, Sisulu alleged that Vawda used social media to mount a series of defamatory attacks against her.
She said these attacks were “unjustified,” “highly inflammatory,” and based on “false and derogatory” claims intended to damage her reputation and political standing.
Sisulu claims the posts formed part of a consistent pattern of personal abuse across multiple posts published on the @goolammv account.