De Ruyter stands firm against defamation threat
Former Eskom CEO André de Ruyter and his publisher, Penuin Random House, are refusing to withdraw allegations in the former’s top-selling book against former top Eskom official Solly Tshitangano.
According to a Rapport report, the lawyer acting on behalf of De Ruyter and the publisher sent a letter to Tshitangano’s lawyers saying any reputation damage Tshitangano might have suffered already occurred prior to the publication of the book and through his own actions.
It is reported that Tshitangano is demanding a retraction of, and apology for, a raft of allegations in the book, failing which, a defamation action would follow.
But Willem de Klerk, attorney for De Ruyter and the publisher, says it is true that Tshitangano was found guilty of gross misconduct and axed as procurement head of Eskom.
It was also not the first time Tshitangano and De Ruyter were at odds with one another.
He accused De Ruyter of racism, which was investigated through an independent panel led by Advocate Ishmael Semenya SC.
De Ruyter was cleared of the racism allegations.
De Klerk said his clients will not retract any of the statements in the book and will defend any litigation that follows.
Article disclaimer: While we have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of this article, it is not intended to provide final legal advice as facts and situations will differ from case to case, and therefore specific legal advice should be sought with a lawyer.
