Media24, publisher of City Press, was on Monday ordered to pay prominent African National Congress politician and medical doctor Zweli Mkhize R150 000 in damages for a defaming him in a report in March 2007.
The order was made by Judge Jan Hugo in the Pietermaritzburg High Court, who also ruled that the paper must also pay the legal costs.
Mkhize is chairperson of finance and economic development in the KwaZulu-Natal Cabinet.
The defamation arises out of a report about the much publicised trial stemming from the murder of Sifiso Nkabinde, of Richmond. He was an ANC leader who was expelled by the ANC and became a leader of the National Democratic Movement.
The City Press report alleged that an accomplice to the murder had said that Mkhize had promised him thousands of rand in exchange for Nkabinde’s assassination.
The report created the mistaken impression that the witness had testified in court that Mkhize had made such a promise to him in person. In fact, this was not said by the witness.
The witness had testified that his understanding and belief concerning Mkhize’s alleged involvement in the Nkabinde murder was hearsay.
At the time Mkhize repeatedly denied any involvement in the Nkabinde murder.
The Natal Witness published a similar report gleaned from the City Press. When Mkhize’s attorney challenged the Natal Witness, it published an apology and no further action was taken against it.
Hugo said that City Press‘s reply to Mkhize’s complaint showed recklessness. – Sapa