MECs 'weren't my cup of tea'

2003-08-05 13:45

Cape Town - Former Western Cape MEC Freda Adams has told the Cape High Court she did not consort with her cabinet colleagues, because they were "not my cup of tea".

"No one can ever say I was a loose woman... they were not my cup of tea... and I didn't even want to socialise with them," she said.

Adams, who is suing former premiers Peter Marais and Gerald Morkel for defamation, and Marais for sexual harassment, was being re-examined by her advocate Fiona Gordon-Turner.

Asked whether an incident of sexual harassment by Marais on August 11 1999 had been an isolated event, Adams said Marais had made a number of other proposals, and had expressed his desire to see her naked.

Marais, who was sitting together with Morkel, shook his head at her testimony.

Earlier, Judge Anton Veldhuizen ruled in favour of a request by Marais's legal team for an amendment to his counter-claim.

Marais's advocate, Anwar Albertus, said they sought to "enlarge the scope of the matter constituting defamatory material".

Gordon-Turner objected, saying the change was "improper" and did not conform to procedures.

- SAPA