The Municipal Employees Pension Fund (MEPF) welcomes a court order interdicting Mr. Phumudzo Ndou and Ndou Attorneys from making any defamatory and malicious accusations against the Fund and its administrator, the Akani Retirement Fund Administrators (Akani).
This landmark decision was handed down by Judge AJ Raubenheimer of the High Court of South Africa (Gauteng Local Division, Johannesburg) on 11 June 2025, in an urgent application launched by the MEPF and Akani to stop Ndou from making sponsored and unsubstantiated allegations against the Fund and Akani.
The Court ruled that the statements and allegations made by Mr. Ndou and his associates were defamatory, false, and unlawful.
The court order prohibits Mr. Ndou and his associates from:
- making or publishing any negative or defamatory statements regarding MEPF, Akani, and their leadership, including claims of criminality, corruption, or fraud;
- encouraging or facilitating others to make or share such statements.
Additionally, the court directed Mr. Ndou and his associates to:
- withdraw their petition containing these allegations;
- publicly acknowledge on their social media platforms that the court has granted the interdict and that the MEPF and Akani have obtained the relief sought, pending final determination of a trial.
The Court emphasised that Mr. Ndou’s communications were sensationalist, dramatic, and likely to mislead MEPF members. The Judge noted that the alleged misconduct on the part of MEPF, Akani, or its leadership had no factual basis and that the dissemination of such misinformation was harmful and unjustified.
The Board of Trustees of the MEPF views this judgment as a clear vindication of the integrity of the Fund, its administrator, and its leadership. The Fund remains committed to the highest standards of governance, transparency, and service to its members.
We urge all stakeholders and members of the media to exercise caution and verify any claims made about the Fund through official channels.