Innscor Africa Wins Legal Battle Against Rutendo Matinyarare
The South African High Court has ordered social media activist Rutendo Matinyarare to cease posting defamatory statements about Innscor Africa and its founder, Mr. Zinona “Zed” Koudounaris. The court emphasized that no financial compensation could remedy the long-term reputational damage that Matinyarare’s actions have inflicted on the agro-industrial firm if he is not restrained.
The ruling follows a legal battle initiated by Innscor Africa, one of Zimbabwe’s leading agro-industrial companies, and its founder, who sought an injunction to prevent Matinyarare from disseminating defamatory content online. The activist had previously posted videos accusing Innscor of “destroying the taste of Zimbabwean food” and referred to Koudounaris as a “Rhodie,” a term associated with derogatory connotations regarding white Zimbabweans.
In a decision made earlier this year, Justice Thina Siwendu ruled that Matinyarare’s claims were indeed defamatory, leaving him vulnerable to a damages claim from Innscor and facing substantial legal costs if the company prevails in court. On January 9, Justice Siwendu ordered Matinyarare to remove the defamatory posts from platforms like Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) and to refrain from making any further unsubstantiated claims against the company and its founder.
Despite this ruling, Matinyarare continued to post defamatory statements between February 28 and June, leading to contempt of court proceedings against him. He was handed a wholly suspended three-month jail term and openly declared his intention to continue publishing information that he deemed factual, despite court orders.
In response to Matinyarare’s defiance, Innscor and Koudounaris sought enforcement of the court’s judgment. On Wednesday, South Gauteng High Court Judge Justice Motsamai Makume granted the relief sought, ordering Matinyarare to remove the contemptuous publications from his social media accounts.
Judge Makume reaffirmed the court’s authority, noting that the interdict would be rendered ineffective if Matinyarare was allowed to continue his actions, potentially leading to irreparable harm for Innscor, including loss of clients and damage to its reputation.
While Matinyarare’s legal team argued for the merits of his appeal, the judge found the prospects of success in that appeal to be slim or nonexistent. Furthermore, Matinyarare was ordered to bear the costs of the application, which includes fees for both parties’ legal counsel.
This ruling highlights the increasing scrutiny and legal ramifications for social media activism, particularly when it intersects with defamation and reputational harm in the corporate world.
