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Jurie Els wants Weideman to pay R100k

Cape Town - Singer Jurie Els wants a fine of R100 000 and a suspended sentence to be imposed on Esmaré Weideman, former editor of Huisgenoot, YOU, and Drum and currently CEO of Media24, after she was found guilty of contempt of court.

In addition to that, Media24 has to pay a fine of R500 000 and together with Weideman publish an apology to the court in Huisgenoot and YOU.

This is what Els's lawyer, Danie Dörfling, argued in the Western Cape High Court on Monday in the case in which the court had to impose an appropriate sentence on Weideman.

Weideman was found guilty of contempt of court in Bloemfontein last year due to the publication of an article about Els in February 2008.

In the article, singer Robbie Klay gives a detailed account of his alleged sexual molestation by Els. Els received a temporary interdict against the publication of the article on February 13 2008.

The magazine then published a censored version of the article.

Weideman said in her affidavit, which was filed in court on Monday, that she constantly acted in consultation with experienced lawyers whose judgments and opinions she regarded highly and supported.

'Sincere apology'

"I was really under the impression that the magazines didn't disrespect the court due to ongoing conversations I had with our legal team.

"I accept the appeals court's decision that I have disrespected the court, take full responsibility for it and offer my sincere and unconditional apology for the offense to the appeals court and this court."

Schalk Burger, legal representative for Weideman and Media24, said it is the first time that a Media24 publication has been found guilty of contempt of court. Weideman also has a clean record in her 26 years as a journalist.

Burger suggested that Weideman pay a fine of R10 000 and Media24 a fine of R50 000. Weideman will also cover all Els's legal costs.

Dörfling argued that the two respondents should not only receive a warning.

"Weideman's actions should be viewed against the factual background of the case and the reckless way the two respondents tried to avoid the consequences of an interdict command by a strategy that can only be described as dishonest. The consequences of the respondents' contempt of court can't be reversed."

*Channel24 is part of 24.com, a division of Media24.

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