Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Tony Leon and the New National Party (NNP) have agreed on an out of court settlement regarding Leon’s moves to sue the NNP plus two of its top officials for defamation.
In June last year, Leon lodged papers in the Cape High Court to sue the NNP, its executive director Daryl Swanepoel, and now Deputy Health Minister Renier Schoeman, for R1-million damages, after they referred to him as a ”political swindler”.
Schoeman issued a statement at the end of May 2002, which bore the headline ”Tony Leon is a political swindler”.
The statement, referring to alleged donations made by German businessman Jurgen Harksen to the DA, said it appeared that ”money laundering could have been involved, which would have been a serious crime”.
It said Leon’s ”personal involvement in the Harksen scandal has unmasked the real Tony Leon: a political swindler who may well have been involved in serious corruption”.
Swanepoel made similar statements in a letter published a few days later.
At the time, both men dismissed Leon’s moves to sue them as a ”media gimmick”.
However, according to the deed of settlement between the parties, made an order of the court on Monday, the NNP, Schoeman and Swanepoel unreservedly withdrew all the defamatory allegations made by them in the press releases against Leon, and ”acknowledge that no foundation existed for such allegations”.
”The New National Party, Renier Schoeman, and Daryl Swanepoel unequivocally apologise for and regret any embarrassment, injury or damage to Tony Leon’s reputation caused by all such defamatory allegations made by them.”
The defendants also undertook to publish their apology ”in a prominent position” in 11 newspapers countrywide on Sapa, and on their own party website.
The defendants would also have to pay all legal costs.
Speaking after this was made an order of court, Leon said he was pleased that his good name had been restored.
He said the NNP, Schoeman and Swanepoel had, ”crossed a grave line and we trust that this will now put an end to the NNP’s smear and fear tactics.
”This complete collapse and capitulation leaves their leadership credibility further in tatters.”
While he was in favour of robust debate, it should not be permissible for people to trash the reputations of opponents without any basis in fact, Leon said. – Sapa