A Johannesburg high court has ruled that Tshepiso Rose Buthelezi—who performs under the name Musical Rose—must take down Facebook content the court deemed defamatory toward JoziFM radio host and DJ Tshepo Junior Makgopa, and also post an unconditional apology.
Court order: posts to be removed and apology required
The ruling was issued after the court found that Buthelezi’s social media statements targeted Makgopa and JoziFM. The judge ordered her to delete the posts within 24 hours of receiving the order.
In addition to the takedown requirement, the court issued an interdict preventing Buthelezi from publishing any further defamatory claims about Makgopa and JoziFM.
- The order directs Buthelezi to remove the posts within a day of being served.
- She is restrained from publishing, republishing, sharing, or causing any future defamatory statements about Makgopa and JoziFM.
One line of the decision states: “Buthelezi is interdicted and restrained from publishing, republishing, sharing or causing to be published any further defamatory statements concerning Makgopa and Jozi FM.”
What the posts alleged and why the court took issue
Before the content was deleted, Buthelezi made allegations on Facebook claiming Makgopa had pressured event organisers to remove her from DJ schedules. She also questioned the organisers’ loyalty to Jozi FM.
In the post, she said the alleged pattern began after she laid an assault charge against Makgopa in 2024. Court papers referenced that the criminal case was later dismissed for lack of sufficient evidence.
Buthelezi further claimed that she was taken off three separate bookings due to Makgopa’s alleged interference, adding that she could not understand why event organisers did not push back against him.
- Buthelezi alleged Makgopa influenced event organisers to exclude her from DJ lineups.
- She questioned event organisers’ loyalty to Jozi FM.
- She said the alleged conduct started after an assault charge she filed in 2024.
- Court records noted that the assault matter was dismissed due to insufficient evidence.
- She claimed she was removed from three bookings and challenged why organisers did not oppose Makgopa.
Apology details and station’s response
The court also instructed Buthelezi to post “a written retraction and unconditional apology” on the same Facebook account, ensuring it appears with similar visibility to the original posting.
That apology text must be written in wording approved by Makgopa and Jozi FM.
JoziFM’s reaction
Speaking to Sowetan, JoziFM news editor Moshe Maswanganyi said the station was named because it was mentioned in Buthelezi’s accusations, even though it was not directly involved in the dispute.
Maswanganyi explained that Buthelezi’s assault allegation stemmed from an incident at an event where, he said, many people were present, and that the matter went to court and ended with Makgopa being vindicated.
He added that after that outcome, Buthelezi posted claims about being deliberately removed from lineups without being able to support them in court. He also said Makgopa works for the station, which he argued is why the station’s name ended up being drawn into disrepute.
- Maswanganyi said JoziFM was cited because it appeared in Buthelezi’s allegations, not because it was directly part of the underlying dispute.
- He said the alleged assault occurred at an event where, in his account, everyone was present.
- He stated the criminal matter proceeded in court and that Makgopa was vindicated.
- He said Buthelezi later made lineup-removal allegations that were not proven in court.
- He argued that since Makgopa is a station employee, JoziFM’s name was brought into the controversy.
