Iqbal Survé Clashes with News24 Over Misidentification Lawsuit and Disinformation Claims

In a fierce rebuttal, Iqbal Survé, the Executive Chairman of Independent Media in South Africa, has lashed out against News24 following an article by journalist Jeff Wicks concerning a legal dispute sparked by the mistaken public identification of Mohammed Yacoob Vawda, a KwaZulu-Natal-based comedian. In a widely circulated media statement, Survé sharply denounced News24's coverage of the events, outlining a broader narrative of information warfare that he contends is undermining the nation's democratic foundations.

Survé asserts that Mohammed Yacoob Vawda, notwithstanding his right to pursue legal action, finds himself in a precarious position as Independent Media stands by the claim that no laws, specifically the cybercrimes act, were breached during the misidentification incident. Survé reveals the company's staunch stance against Vawda's lawyer, Rupert Candy, about the R1.2 million extortion allegation he poses against the media organization.

Central to Survé's argument is the assertion that News24, part of Media24, operates as a "propaganda machine" with historical ties to the apartheid regime through its association with Naspers and its chairman's lineage. In a striking accusation, Survé labels former BOSS operative Cor Jansen Bekker, the father of current Naspers Chairman Koos Bekker, as a vestige of this legacy, suggesting that News24 is complicit in protecting corporate and political interests aligned with President Cyril Ramaphosa and the ANC against media that presents challenging viewpoints.

Within this charged atmosphere, Survé also speaks to the saga of the @goolammv Twitter account, purportedly tied to Goolam Muhammad Vawda, who is accused of harassment and propagating targeted disinformation against opponents of President Ramaphosa. Survé alleges connections between Vawda, key political figures in the ANC, and members of the Democratic Alliance — further complicating the web of disinformation and political intrigue.

Independent Media had previously issued a public apology for the mistaken identification of Mohammed Yacoob Vawda but is now confronted with legal recourse which claims to have inflicted various personal damages upon the comedian. Survé maintains that his organization has not released any private data beyond what is public and that their goal is to unmask the true identities behind disinformation networks to protect the country's democracy.

While the story intensifies with accusations of media wars and intertwined political agendas, Survé closes with a vow to uphold the integrity of independent journalism with a mantra befitting a suspenseful narrative — "Watch this space."