Citizen Online
Thursday, November 30, 2006
JOHANNESBURG - As a sequel to the Johannesburg High Court rape trial of former Deputy President Jacob Zuma, the first steps have been taken against certain publications in multi-million rand claims for defamation and impairment of dignity.
In the Johannesburg High Court civil section yesterday advocate Jurg Prinsloo, on behalf of the Zuma team, obtained a court order to amend wording in the summons served on The Sunday Independent and Sunday World newspapers.
There had been objections lodged to the "combined summons" served on the publications.
According to court documents on behalf of the ANC deputy president, four million rand is being claimed "for defamation causing damage to reputation", and R1 million for "impairment of dignity" from each paper.
Judge Goldblatt yesterday granted the order to amend the wording in respect of the claim against Independent News and Media (South Africa) Ltd, and Jovial Rantao, Andrew Walker and William Mervyn Gumede in respect of the Sunday Independent.
The second amendment order on the wording of the summons was in respect of the claim against Johnnic Holdings Limited, Thabo Leshilo, Bareng- Batho Kortjaas in respect of an article in the Sunday World.
The publications are expected to defend the claims, and the matter could go to trial early next year.