Klay claims: Jurie speaks out

2008-02-29 08:08

Philip de Bruin

Johannesburg - Singer Jurie Els spoke out for the first time on Thursday about allegations that he sexually molested the young singer Robbie Klay, when Robbie was a boy.

Els said Klay "didn't shy away from lying" and that Klay's "false allegations that I molested him as a child, should be measured against this personality trait".

Klay alleged three weeks ago that "an uncle" who was well-known in theatrical circles, sexually molested him over a period of seven years.

Els's sworn statement with his version of the relationship between himself and Klay are contained in affidavits filed at the Cape High Court on Monday.

In the affidavits Els asks, among other things, that YOU/Huisgenoot's editor and Media24 be prosecuted for contempt of court because Klay's story was published in contravention of a court order forbidding this.

It was confirmed to Beeld on Thursday that Els had slipped back into South Africa.

He arrived on a Sunday, a fortnight ago, and left again a week later for New Zealand where he and his wife, Hestrie Cloete, now live.

Beeld heard that the purpose of his visit was to finalise the application for contempt of court.

Els said if he had been given the opportunity to do so he "would have refuted the false and unreasonable allegations (in YOU/Huisgenoot) contained therein. I do so in this statement".

He describes how he got to know Klay as an 11-year-old boy, how he helped him as the producer of the BMG record company (now known as Sony BMG) when Klay wanted to record CDs and how Klay's "mischievous face and unusually long hair was in sharp contrast with the other child performers of that time".

'Sexually obsessed'

Els said that after getting to know Klay, he realised the boy had personality defects, that he couldn't distinguish between right and wrong and that he rebelled against authority.

"When I first met Robbie, he was a bed-wetter. It carried on until he was nearly 14."

That was the reason Klay had "frequently" slept in Els's bed, "after he'd wet his own bed".

"Nothing indecent happened between us."

He said Klay was "sexually obsessed from an early age. I caught him looking at pornography on the internet".

"I ordered him not to visit pornographic websites."

Klay's allegations "that I molested him as a youngster" should be seen against the background of his manipulative nature, the fact that he didn't refrain from lying, that he did not care what damage he caused to people's lives, and his love of media attention."

'The full truth will emerge'

Klay said on Thursday he rejected Els's statements "with the contempt they deserve".

"His allegations are ridiculous and untrue.

"With a police investigation under way at present, I know that the full truth will emerge in the independent courts."

Referring to the affidavit, his attorney, Koos van Rensburg, said it was a matter between Els and Huisgenoot and, for that reason, he could not comment on it.

- Beeld