Johannesburg - Independent Newspaper executives are suing
the investigative magazine, Noseweek, for publishing an article accusing the
company of kickbacks and money laundering, The Star reported on Wednesday.
According to court papers served on Noseweek editor Martin
Welz, Independent Newspapers Cape Editor-in-Chief Chris Whitfield, former
Gauteng Editor-in-Chief Moegsien Williams, and chief executive Tony Howard were
suing for R350 000 in damages.
"We gave Noseweek ample opportunity to correct their
distortions, and they have failed to do so," Whitfield said.
The Noseweek article claimed that Independent Newspapers
struck a deal with Auction Alliance on the publication of information about
auction kickbacks.
The defendants were Welz, Chaucer Publications - the owner
and publisher of Noseweek - and magazine marketing and subscription services,
the registrant of the magazine's website.
Welz told the newspaper he would defend the article.
"I think I have more than a fair chance. I have faced
cases like this before and I have never lost a case," he said.
"I think it's fair and well that members of the media have spats and criticise each other in their columns. It's quite another thing... (when) they take one another to court."
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