Patriotic Alliance (PA) deputy president and former self-proclaimed "King Of Sushi" Kenny Kunene (54) is in hot water over statements he made last year calling Zimbabwean businessman Isaac Chalumbira a criminal.

SUFFERING DAMAGES

Chalumbira has hit Kunene with a lawsuit of R2.5 million after accusing him of illegally operating illegal cross-border bus (Powerhouse) rank within Johannesburg's Park Station. He said thisduring a live television interview last year. Chalumbira noted the comments made by him as part of an organised crime syndicate. As a result of the publication of these statements, his name and reputation were injured and suffered damages amounting to R2.5 million

MORE BOLD STATEMENTS

This is not the first time Kunene has been accused of making brave allegations. He recently denied defaming Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema of working for confessed tobacco smuggler Adriano Mazzotti and receiving drugs from "the Nigerians.' He said the remarks he made were "fair comments". This is after Malema filed a case of defamation with the Gauteng High Court. "Malema works for Mazzotti. He sells illegal cigarettes for Mazzotti. The Nigerians give him cocaine,' he said in a video that went viral on social media. In his defense, Kunene claimed it was "political commentary, made in a political context about a political figure, based on genuinely held opinions grounded in publicly available information."