What started as a discussion on social media where entertainment news commentator Phil Mphela posted about Joburg hostel and braai spot Mai Mai has ended up in a lawsuit for defamation. Phil had been arguing that some of the food stalls at the popular braai hangout were "white-owned" but some people begged to differ. This led to former journalist, Zinhle Khumalo joining the conversation, and hurling insults at the vlogger saying how he once begged her for a job. "Phil you are lying. But I'm not surprised because you have always been a liar. You are the same person who'll ask for money and lie unprovoked about your car being out for service because you were embarrassed that you were broke and didn't have the car anymore. Sit down," Zinhle wrote.

ATTEMPTED RAPE ACCUSATIONS

After a heated back and forth, Phil included transgender activist Yaya Mavundla in the conversation. Zinhle dragged Yaya and accused her of attempted rape at the Collins Chabane music festival a few years ago. "Wena Yaya you must shup up. I lost respect for you when you tried to rape one of the guys we were invited with to attend the Collins Chabane event in Limpopo 2019," Zinhle wrote. "We had to bang doors to stop you from forcing yourself on him. Lungisa isimilo sakho kuqala."

NOT TAKING THE ACCUSATIONS LIGHTLY

Yaya didn't take accusations lightly and through her lawyers, Maloka Makola Attorneys, slapped Khumalo with a R300 000 defamation lawsuit and demanded an apology within 21 days. "Should you fail to do so, we will be constrained to file the necessary legal action against you, to protect the interest of our client. We will pursue both criminal and civil action with damages and attorney's fees plus costs incurred by our client as a result of your actions, which action will be instituted without further notice," the legal document stated. Zinhle responded saying that her legal team has dealt with the matter. "Equally, since I've laid criminal charges against the person who defamed me about some non-existent Bongi person. I shall tweet no more until the investigation is concluded and someone is punished. Hasta la vista baby," Yaya tells ZiMoja that she has worked too hard to be accused of rape. "This is not fair. I've worked too hard to be painted in this light. I will not let it rest. She cannot be comfortable saying such things about me," she says. "I am losing out on work because an angry and hateful person decided to lie about my life."