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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
“We gave Noseweek ample opportunity to correct their distortions, and they have failed to do so,” Whitfield said.<\/p>\n
The Noseweek article claimed that Independent Newspapers struck a deal with Auction Alliance on the publication of information about auction kickbacks.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Welz told the newspaper he would defend the article.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
“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.”.<\/p>\n
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