Derek Hanekom on Zuma SCA ruling: ‘Justice has been done’
Former tourism minister Derek Hanekom says Thursday’s ruling by the Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein came as no surprise.
The appeals court dismissed a bid by former president Jacob Zuma to appeal against a high court ruling that he had defamed Hanekom by calling him a “known enemy agent”.
The appeal was dismissed without being heard by the court, saying there is no reasonable prospect of success in the appeal.
Hanekom sued Zuma for a 2019 tweet, in which he accused the African National Congress (ANC) veteran of discussing a motion of no confidence in him with the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF).
He believes the Bloemfontein court made an important ruling.
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"Here you have the former president of the Republic of South Africa, former president of the ANC, making a very inflammatory statement, very provocative statement which he knew was untrue, which is his lawyers acknowledged had a no basis.
"People should not be able to get away with making comments of that nature. Especially given the position that he occupies because there is a context.”
The former minister says he believes justice has been served.
"I decided that he simply can't get away with it and he has to be challenged and so I challenged - successfully.
“It would be good to put this behind us as there other more important things to focus on - as a country, as an organisation - but justice has to be done and I think justice has been done."