'I'm not sexually deviant'
2009-04-30 09:20
Johannesburg - Singer Steve Hofmeyr is claiming R1m from Esmaré Weideman, the editor of Huisgenoot, because among others, Huisgenoot had "created the impression that I was sexually deviant".
Hofmeyr's court documents were submitted to the south Gauteng High Court in response to a summons which Weideman had earlier served on Hofmeyr.
Weideman claims R260 000 from Hofmeyr, because he, among others, had assaulted her by throwing a cup of tea in her face. Hofmeyr said in his court documents that he admitted throwing the tea, but denied that it was assault.
He also said his blog comments against her were justified as Weideman had used her position as editor of Huisgenoot for 18 months to "belittle, slander, embarrass and gossip about" him.
In his claim of R1m against Weideman, Hofmeyr said that Huisgenoot, led by Weideman, had continuously carried "wrongful, unlawful and slanderous" articles about him, causing "utmost levels of emotional stress and tension, which had contributed" to his perforated colon.
Embarrassment to himself
He said the several articles that Weideman, "in Huisgenoot especially" had published, were aimed "and had the result" that "readers of Huisgenoot and the public in general" believed that Hofmeyr was "sexually deviant".
The articles also created the impression that he had "serious psychological problems" and that there was "something wrong" with him.
Furthermore, Weideman wanted the public to believe that Hofmeyr suffered from an inferiority complex, needed psychological analysis and therapy, was an embarrassment to himself and society, was "angry" and had knowingly ruined peoples lives.
"The publication of the relevant articles about me took place over a period of 18 months and were aimed at reaching the widest possible readers to thereby cause me serious damage and harm to my good name and reputation."
Weideman's lawyer, Johan Theron of Werksmans-Jan S de Villiers in Cape Town refused to comment.
Weideman said on Wednesday the counter claim and the motivation for it sounded like the actions of a desperate man.