R2.5m not enough, says Marais
2003-08-14 13:00
Cape Town - Former Western Cape premier Peter Marais told the High Court here on Thursday that he believed a R2.5m defamation counter-claim he had lodged against former MEC Freda Adams was not enough.
"No amount of money could ever make good the loss in image, integrity, good name, political career... I move on the world's stage and am one of the few people who can meet with (Palestine Liberation Organisation leader) Yasser Arafat and (Bavarian governor) Dr Stoiber," Marais said.
Adams is suing Marais, and Gerald Morkel, also a former Western Cape premier.
Marais faces two defamation claims - one for R125 000 and the other for R1m - and a R1.2m claim for sexual harassment while Morkel is facing a defamation claim of R500 000.
Marais said that with the value of the rand today no one could expect to buy anything with this amount, in any case.
Facing Adams's counsel, Fiona Gordon-Turner, for the first time during cross-examination, Marais said sexual harassment occurred when any attention, "both verbal and physical" occurred that a woman or man did not want and was then repeated again.
"A woman of character will stand up for her rights, it doesn't matter where she comes from," he said.
Asked by Gordon-Turner about different areas of a woman's body that might be considered erogenous when touched, Marais said he did not know where the small of a woman's back was and when pressed about the sensitivity of a woman's neck he said: "I don't speak out of my bedroom."
Marais agreed the world would be a better place if people respected each other's dignity and rights.
"Any reasonable, normal person would know they were committing an offence if they touched something in an inappropriate manner."
The case continues.
- SAPA