Pretoria – The North Gauteng High Court has dismissed a R25 million damages claim brought against ANC veteran Dr Mathews Phosa, rejecting allegations of harassment, unlawful surveillance, and manipulation of the legal and media landscape.
The case was filed by Jan Hendrik Stephanus Venter, who described himself as a former employee of Phosa. Venter sought compensation for alleged emotional trauma, reputational harm, and ongoing threats to his safety and dignity.
Judge Rules in Phosa’s Favour
On Tuesday, Judge Amien J ruled in Phosa’s favour with no order as to costs, effectively closing the matter. Speaking to IOL, Phosa declined to engage with the claims.
“My comment is no comment. I will not give this matter any relevance, because there’s no relevance at all,” Phosa said, adding that Venter is currently serving a prison sentence in Pretoria.
Details of the Allegations
In his affidavit, Venter alleged that he was subjected to humiliation and intimidation during a meeting at the offices of Phosa’s legal associate, Ulrich Roux. He claimed he was taken into a bathroom and forced to strip naked under suspicion of wearing surveillance devices.
“I was in tears, traumatised and emotionally destroyed. Others saw my condition in the boardroom immediately afterwards,” Venter stated in court papers.
Venter further accused Phosa of:
- Using legal and political influence to derail criminal complaints
- Orchestrating media campaigns to damage his reputation
- Arranging for legal papers to be served on him in prison to link him to a defamation case related to the book Predator Politics
- Leaking false information to journalists portraying him as a “secret weapon” in Phosa’s legal battles
- Failing to deliver on promises of financial and legal support
He said the fallout left him destitute, without income, housing security, transport, or access to medication, and in poor mental health.
Phosa’s Position
Phosa has consistently dismissed the allegations, refusing to respond to what he calls baseless claims. The court’s ruling effectively clears him of the accusations, with no further legal action pending in this case.
