The high Court of South Africa has given Nigeria’s Apostle Suleman Victory over South African Journalist Solomon Ashoms who wrote defamatory articles against him without proof.
On 11 March 2021,Ashoms via his social media handle known as Solom’s Temple, made a presentation on his YouTube channel, which was shared live on his Facebook account, Twitter and Instagram handles, titled: “Apostle Johnson Suleman got a corrupt apology”.
On 30 April 2021, the defendant via Solomon’s Temple, released a damning publication, via the aforementioned media channels, titled “Johnson Suleman bribed Pastor with $60,000 for apology”.
Among others the court held that
”Social media provides fertile ground for the mushrooming of self-acclaimed
journalists, some of whom, with a YouTube Channel under their belts, consider
themselves, at times, foolishly so, as journalists of the highest order, unfettered, unrestrained, and accountable to nobody. It is precisely the lack of regulation, that seems to justify the relentless publishing of defamatory content, without any real or significant consequences, that makes this practice rather attractive. This judgment will serve as a wake-up call for those wrapped up in that folly….”
The court ruled that…
1.The defendant is ordered to pay the plaintiff an amount of R35,000.00 (thirty-five thousand rand) as damages for publishing defamatory allegations about the
plaintiff;
- The defendant is ordered to detract the defamatory publications, within 21
(twenty-one) days of this order; - The defendant is ordered to publish a letter of apology to the plaintiff in a South African national newspaper, within 21 (twenty-one) days of this order;
- The defendant is ordered to pay the plaintiff’s costs on the Magistrates Court
scale.
