Staff Reporter
THE Windhoek High Court has put a definitive stop to Ongwediva resident Toivo Potgieter Simeon Nghinananye’s protracted defamation campaign against businessman Benjamin Hauwanga, widely known as BH.
Hauwanga had sued Nghinananye for N$500,000 for defamation of character.
An out-of-court settlement was recently reached and made an order of the court.
In the settlement, Nghinananye — also known as Kapooti — admitted to lying about Hauwanga. He retracted his false statements and issued an unconditional apology, to be published on all his social media platforms.
Kapooti must also pay BH N$200,000, suspended for five years on condition that he does not defame Hauwanga again within that period.
“I, Simeon Nghinananye, commonly known as Vilho Potgieter, do hereby state that on various dates and on various occasions, I made disparaging remarks against Mr Benjamin Hauwanga,” the apology reads.
“I hereby tender my unconditional apology to Mr Benjamin Hauwanga, following the unfounded allegations I made between 2024 and 2026 in WhatsApp voice notes, group chats and TikTok videos, which have since gone viral on all social media platforms.”
Kapooti admitted the allegations caused both personal and professional damage to BH. “I admit that I made these allegations on non-factual and misinformed bases and I personally take full responsibility. In light of the above, I humbly apologise to Mr Benjamin Hauwanga, and I unequivocally retract my false and defamatory statements.”
Over the past three years, Kapooti has attracted a large following. Some of his supporters have described his retraction and apology as acts of betrayal and are “groaning and wailing” over the latest developments.
Photo: File
