President Jacob Zuma receives very substantial damages and apology from the Guardian
30 July 2009
Download PDF of Statement in open court
Related pages
President Jacob Zuma wins apology from the Guardian - 21 April 2009
Corrections and Clarifications - The Guardian - 21 April 2009
The Guardian newspaper today agreed to pay South African President, Jacob Zuma, very substantial damages in relation to an article it published on 6 March 2009 alleging that President Zuma was guilty of rape and crimes of corruption and bribery.
After libel proceedings were issued by Schillings, on 21 April 2009 the Guardian publicly apologised to President Zuma for making the allegations. It has now agreed to pay President Zuma very significant damages and his legal costs.
In a statement read in the High Court on 30 July 2009 Schillings solicitor Jenny Afia described the claims as being “of the utmost seriousness and totally untrue”. She went on to explain that:
“In light of the facts that the [Guardian] is now willing to pay very substantial damages and it has publicly apologised to [President Zuma], [President Zuma] considers that his reputation in this matter has been entirely vindicated and he is prepared not to proceed any further in his action against the [Guardian].”
Speaking last night from Mahlambandlovu , the President’s official residence in Pretorialast, President Zuma said:
“What was said was extremely serious, not just for me but for the ANC. I am very pleased that the Guardian has now apologised. I firmly believe in press freedom and freedom of expression. I have fought for these and other basic rights my whole life and I will continue to support this. We had to take action in this matter because the publication crossed the line. Media around the world are obliged to exercise their freedom of speech in a responsible manner.”
For all media enquiries relating to media defamation matters instituted by President Zuma please contact Liesl Göttert of The Media Specialists.
Liesl Göttert
Director
The Media Specialists
lgottert@global.co.za
0027 72214 9461 (Johannesburg)
07913 447 719 (London)
For further enquires please contact:
Schillings
+44 (0)20 7034 9000
legal@schillings.co.uk