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Johannesburg - Singer Jurie Els is suing Media24 and Esmaré Weideman, chief editor of Huisgenoot, YOU and Drum magazines, for R5.5m.
The claim arises from a summons that was issued when Huisgenoot published articles which alleged that Els molested singer Robbie Klay when he was still a minor.
Els has meanwhile been acquitted on all charges of sexual molestation in the Pretoria High Court.
According to the summons that was issued in the High Court in Cape Town, Els is demanding R4.5m for the alleged loss of income he suffered when articles about him and Klay appeared in YOU, Die Burger and Rapport.
He is demanding another R1m for defamation. Media24 is being sued as Weideman's employer and as publisher of Rapport and Die Burger.
'My years in censored's claws'
The article in Die Burger that Els refers to is "Jurie Els kry interdik oor die 'oom'" (Jurie Els gets interdict against 'oom').
The Rapport article appeared on February 17, 2008, under the headline "Robbie was bang vir vroetel-oom" (Robbie was afraid of molesting uncle) together with a picture of Els. The word "uncle" is how Klay referred to Els in an interview with Beeld, who first reported the allegations.
The Huisgenoot article, which also appeared in YOU, appeared three days after Beeld's article. It appeared under the heading "My jare in gesensor se kloue" (My years in censored's claws). The word "censored" was used after Els won an interdict forbidding Huisgenoot to reveal his identity.
Mental well-being
Els claims the article was "unlawful and defamatory" because it "was intended and understood by readers" that he took part in illegal sex acts, was a felon and a child molester and that he abused a minor.
Els said the articles were published as widely as possible to dishonour his good name and reputation and in addition compromised his "worth and mental well-being."
Media24 and Weideman now have 20 days to give notice that the claim will be defended.
Pieter Conradie, Media24 and Weideman's attorney, declined to comment and Weideman is abroad.
The claim arises from a summons that was issued when Huisgenoot published articles which alleged that Els molested singer Robbie Klay when he was still a minor.
Els has meanwhile been acquitted on all charges of sexual molestation in the Pretoria High Court.
According to the summons that was issued in the High Court in Cape Town, Els is demanding R4.5m for the alleged loss of income he suffered when articles about him and Klay appeared in YOU, Die Burger and Rapport.
He is demanding another R1m for defamation. Media24 is being sued as Weideman's employer and as publisher of Rapport and Die Burger.
'My years in censored's claws'
The article in Die Burger that Els refers to is "Jurie Els kry interdik oor die 'oom'" (Jurie Els gets interdict against 'oom').
The Rapport article appeared on February 17, 2008, under the headline "Robbie was bang vir vroetel-oom" (Robbie was afraid of molesting uncle) together with a picture of Els. The word "uncle" is how Klay referred to Els in an interview with Beeld, who first reported the allegations.
The Huisgenoot article, which also appeared in YOU, appeared three days after Beeld's article. It appeared under the heading "My jare in gesensor se kloue" (My years in censored's claws). The word "censored" was used after Els won an interdict forbidding Huisgenoot to reveal his identity.
Mental well-being
Els claims the article was "unlawful and defamatory" because it "was intended and understood by readers" that he took part in illegal sex acts, was a felon and a child molester and that he abused a minor.
Els said the articles were published as widely as possible to dishonour his good name and reputation and in addition compromised his "worth and mental well-being."
Media24 and Weideman now have 20 days to give notice that the claim will be defended.
Pieter Conradie, Media24 and Weideman's attorney, declined to comment and Weideman is abroad.
