In 2016, Australian mining company Mineral Commodities Limited (MRC) and its CEO Mark Caruso sued Cape Town attorney Cormac Cullinan, Amadiba Crisis Committee activist Mzamo Dlamini, and John Clarke, a social worker, all for defamation in relation to the company’s involvement at Xolobeni. In the first case, plaintiffs MRC and Mark Caruso are each seeking R1 million (plus interest, plus costs) from Xolobeni community activist Mzamo Dlamini, and R500,000 each from environmental lawyer Cormac Cullinan. MRC is also seeking damages totalling R2.25 million from eight claims against social worker, author and commentator John GI Clarke. Caruso is suing Clarke for R3.25 million in damages in respect of 11 claims. The cases, totalling damages claims of R9.85 million, are widely regarded as SLAPP suits – Strategic Litigations Against Public Participation – that were instituted as part of the company’s deliberate strategy stifle critics of its operations in South Africa.