Fikile Mbalula says the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) defamation claims against him are unfounded. In response, he rejects the allegations as factually incorrect and argues that the EFF’s stance is hypocritical. Mbalula says his position is set out in a detailed letter from his lawyers, which he presents as addressing the claims and clarifying the factual basis for his denial. The dispute centers on competing statements and accusations between the two political figures/parties, with Mbalula maintaining that the EFF’s claims do not hold up when assessed against the underlying facts. The correspondence from his legal representatives is described as a rebuttal to what he characterizes as inaccurate assertions, rather than an admission of wrongdoing. At this stage, the reporting indicates disagreement over whether Mbalula’s remarks or actions—alleged by the EFF—amount to defamation, and whether the EFF’s accusations are properly grounded. Further developments depend on how the EFF responds to Mbalula’s legal counter-statement.