Transnet speaks out over City Press/Gama court battle

The ding dong battle between acting Transnet chief executive Siyabonga Gama and the City Press and its sister publications over articles described by Transnet as inaccurate and intended to tarnish his reputation culminated in a High Court challenge last week in which the Judge ruled in Transnet’s favour. City Press was ordered to remove the inaccuracies contained in their article.

“In fact he ordered, in our view, that the article be re-drafted. In addition the judge insisted that the City Press grant us a right of reply of no more than 400 words. Therefore, the tweet by the editor of the City Press that the Transnet Gag failed is not true,” a Transnet spokesman said.

According to the organisation, the City Press has on various occasions attempted to re-interpret the circumstances around which Gama left Transnet in 2010 and his eventual reinstatement.

He has never been charged by the NPA and there is no pending investigation against him by any of the law enforcement agencies, said Transnet. “Contrary to the false allegations that the City Press wanted to publish, the NPA has confirmed in writing that there is no evidence that links Gama to any acts of criminality . This was submitted in court as part of the hearing. The NPA further said that there was no basis for the closed and finalised investigation to be reviewed.”

The spokesman confirmed that Gama was not under any investigation and nor was he suspected or charged of any wrongdoing.

“He was forced to approach court as he couldn't watch and allow City Press to publish falsehood and fabrications in the name of public interest. We wish to state that it is regrettable that we had to resort to measures such as court proceedings for us to get a fair reporting by the City Press and its sister publications,” the spokesman said.

Gama has reserved the right to institute legal action against City Press and Media 24 for any contravention of the court order and any inference that he is linked to any unlawful activity, which is presently not before any law enforcement agency.