The National Director of Public Prosecutions Bulelani Ngcuka has been slapped with a R180-million defamation lawsuit by controversial businessman Billy Rautenbach, the City Press newspaper reported.
The report said the former Hyundai boss in Southern Africa is also suing other top government officials — justice minister Penuell Maduna and deputy national director of public prosecutions Willie Hofmeyr — for a combined amount of R4,5-million for allegedly publishing false allegations that damaged his reputation.
Ngcuka’s representative Sipho Ngwema, who is the ninth respondent in the matter, told the City Press the government would defend the action.
About three years ago, police confiscated property belonging to Rautenbach, including a luxury home in Sandhurst, Johannesburg, a farm in Paarl, outside Cape Town, five aircraft, an R8,6-million yacht and a secret container packed with documents.
In March 2002 Rautenbach won a high court order for the release of R40-million worth of assets seized by the Asset Forfeiture Unit.
Ngcuka is being sued for defamation because of statements attributed to him in a Sunday Times report of November 21, 1999 in which he said Rautenbach featured among the top criminals in the country. – Sapa