The Estate Agency Affairs Board corrects false media report

Media Release
09 December 2019

The Estate Agency Affairs Board wishes to correct the false and defamatory allegations published on social media and the Rapport newspaper regarding a December 5, 2019 incident at its Sandton premises.

On Friday December 6, DA MP Emma Powell tweeted the following under her Twitter handle @powellemmaloui1: “Today, a meeting between EAAB management and NEHAWU shops stewards was terminated when increasingly rogue CEO Mohlala-Mulaudzi's husband/partner allegedly walked onto state-entity premises and produced a firearm.”

Rapport newspaper on Sunday December 8, 2019 published a story headlined: “Werkers kla-toe storm baas se man met wapen in”. 

The allegations made against the CEO Mamodupi Mohlala are false. These are the facts:

• On Thursday December 5, 2019 Nehawu had a scheduled meeting with its members at the EAAB offices. These meetings are held from time to time with management’s approval.
• There was no meeting between Nehawu and EAAB management. As a CEO, Ms Mohlala does not attend such meetings as she is not a member. Ms Mohlala’s estranged husband was never at the EAAB premises.
• During the meeting there was an incident involving an EAAB employee and a Nehawu representative.
• Ms Mohlala has commissioned an independent investigation into what transpired on the day. Preliminary investigations, including an affidavit from the security official on duty, have confirmed at no time was a firearm present nor brandished during the incident. 
• The completed report will be presented to the EAAB board on Tuesday December 10, 2019.

Ms Mohlala has written to Ms Powell demanding that she remove the defamatory tweet within 24 hours, failing which she will take legal action to protect her rights. She will also lodge a complaint against Rapport with the Press Ombudsman.

Ms Mohlala wishes to assure all stakeholders that their safety is of paramount importance on its premises. “We want to assure the public and our employees that we take every necessary precaution to ensure that our visitors and staff are able to conduct their business in a safe and secure environment,” she said.

Ends/…

Issued on behalf of the Estate Agency Affairs Board

For further enquiries contact:

Chandré Prince

Communications and Stakeholder Engagement Specialist

chandre.prince@eaab.org.za

Mobile: 083 316 3028