|
Hofmeyr wants to sue Rapport
24/01/2008 09:29 - (SA)
Sanri van Wyk and Eagan Williamson, Beeld
Pretoria - Singer Steve Hofmeyr's lawyer, Peet Viljoen, said on Wednesday afternoon he had received instructions from his client to sue the Sunday newspaper, Rapport.
"The extent of the claim is still being considered," he said, but the reason behind it was "one-sided reporting".
Janine van der Vyver, a fitness instructor from Pretoria, poured out her heart in Rapport on Sunday, claiming that she and Hofmeyr had had a 10-year relationship.
Viljoen said Rapport had not approached his client for comment before publishing the report. He said the report also contained libellous allegations.
Rapport editor Tim du Plessis said Hofmeyr was free to take any steps. "As soon as he takes steps, we will respond."
Response was 'open letter'
Du Plessis emphasised that the newspaper had not paid Van der Vyver for the story. "Not a cent," he said.
Van der Vyver's new lawyer, Anneline Snijmann, also emphasised on Wednesday that her client did not want any publicity or money (which she already had been offered by several publications) in connection with her legal steps against Hofmeyr.
"My client responded to Hofmeyr by way of the open letter (in Rapport) and wanted to set the record straight regarding the Huisgenoot article of December 27, in which the singer referred to Van der Vyver as merely a 'pop-star diversion'.
"Neither my client nor I wish to comment any further."
Snijmann said a legal process was pending and the case would be taken further in court.
"We will not even deign to comment on Hofmeyr's absurd statements in the media and his online diary."
Snijmann also confirmed that Van der Vyver's claim against Hofmeyr would be expanded.
Hofmeyr wrote about the matter again on his blog on Wednesday. He said he had stopped reading newspapers this week.
"The press has satiated me. I can't listen to the radio either, because Niekie (van den Berg of RSG) has been talking about marriage and divorce for two days now."
"How can you sit and be sociable while other people's lives are falling apart?" he wrote.
Not in hiding
Regarding rumours that his wife, Natasha Sutherland, had kicked him out of the house, Hofmeyr's lawyer said, "It's absurd. He has not left his home and his wife is not with her mother. They are both at home and it's going well."
"The family is together at present. They are going to work the thing out."
He also denied rumours that Hofmeyr had fled to his holiday home at Pennington on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast and/or is hiding in a Johannesburg hotel.
- Beeld
|
South Africa
