JOHANNESBURG — Sports journalist Graeme Joffe has made a name for himself by scrutinising corruption in South African sport. He previously started asking uncomfortable questions around the Guptas close links to local sports federations, a fact that has since emerged in the controversial Gupta email leaks. His exposes and tough questions seemingly caused such a stir that he was forced to leave South Africa to ensure his safety. He has always been outspoken and now he’s speaking out following a decision by his insurers, Hollard Insurance, to pay a proposed settlement to Sascoc of R1.3 million. The settlement centres on a defamation claim, launched by Sascoc in July 2013, against the sports journalist following a series of online articles and tweets published by Joffe concerning the sports body and its board members. Joffe tells his side of the story here. – Gareth van Zyl
By Graeme Joffe*
Dear fellow South Africans
I would like to take this opportunity to set the record straight after all the factually incorrect and misleading media reports which were mostly copied and pasted from a SASCOC press release and the SASCOC website.
Not one sports journalist even called or emailed me for a comment or to confirm or deny the SASCOC PR spin.
So, for the record:
I did not settle with SASCOC, I did not pay them one cent and there was no apology or retraction.
I will never ever apologize for telling the truth!
Everything I have reported on was factually correct and the truth will all one day prevail.
SASCOC is a totally corrupt organization!
Hollard Insurance took a business decision to settle with SASCOC which I was vehemently opposed to.
And this despite, “our” legal counsel saying we would more than likely win the case.
For those who don’t understand how it works with defamation insurance – Hollard took over my defence, they appointed the legal team and run the case as they saw fit from the very beginning.
I wanted SASCOC in court as soon as possible and did not agree with the exceptions route but it wasn’t my case any longer.
The legal team took instruction from Hollard.
After four years, there was still had no discovery from SASCOC despite my numerous requests to Hollard and the legal team.
4 years after suing me in my personal capacity for R21 million for defamation, SASCOC withdraws the case. Vindication but no justice!
— Graeme Joffe (@Joffersmyboy) July 15, 2017
But SASCOC twice requested the same discovery from me (another delay tactic) and after the first round, they reduced their summons in half, knowing I had too much evidence.
SASCOC suing me in my personal capacity for R21.1 million was just a blatant attempt to bully and silence me and cripple me financially.
They didn’t know I had defamation insurance when they sued.
So, they kept the case going for four years to try and make a point and not to embarrass themselves further.
According to SASCOC, they wanted to clear their “good name” – really?
If you wanted to clear your good name – wouldn’t you want the defendant in court as soon as possible?
Not SASCOC because their name is anything but good!
SASCOC were never coming to court and we probably would have waited another four years to get discovery from them.
Good to see the SASCOC PR spin machine is still working but the wheel will turn for this corrupt mob and the truth will prevail!
— Graeme Joffe (@Joffersmyboy) July 18, 2017
One has no idea how investigative journalism consumes your life and becomes an addiction but I have no regrets, especially knowing in a couple years-time or however long it takes, you will all be able to say Graeme Joffe was right.
I exposed the Gupta capture in SA sport last March – I was right without having access to the GuptaLeaks.
I could go on and on …
SASCOC didn’t illegally phone tap and hack my emails for nothing. It happened soon after I was investigating an alleged rape case in SA Volleyball that was covered up by none other than the President of SA Volleyball and CEO of SASCOC, Tubby Reddy.
SASCOC’s media/PR company didn’t create a fake website on a server in Panama to defame and discredit me for nothing.
I wasn’t followed from Melrose Arch after a breakfast meeting for nothing.
The criminal case I opened up wasn’t swept under the carpet for nothing.
I didn’t receive a threat to my safety for nothing.
Contrary to what Graeme Joffe claims, his lawyers had settled with Sascoc. pic.twitter.com/5GjYyPjQWk
— Ockert de Villiers (@ockertde) July 18, 2017
The corrupt have too much to lose and they got what they wanted, to get me out of the country and for me to stop my digital publication which was naming and shaming corrupt sports officials as well as exposing the blatant theft of National Lottery funds.
There is a mafia running SA sport aided by a seriously corrupted National Lottery and a conflicted media.
SASCOC and many of the other big SA sporting federations hand select journalists to go on ‘freebie’ tours and trips and these are many of the very same journalists who would only be too happy to see me go down.
Not one of them even reported on the fact when SASCOC cut their summons in half after discovery.
I guess there was no press release from SASCOC on that.
The gravy train journalists love to stay in SASCOC’s good books and will copy and paste whatever the Olympic body sends out, even if it’s ten days after the fact, like in this case.
Head of News24 sport, Garrin Lambley said:
Let’s see if they publish my response without editing.
Sport24 reporter, Mark Keohane is still a ‘SASCOC consultant’ and likes to cover for his buddies and paymasters, Tubby and Gideon.
Have you seen any reports on News24 regarding the current Tubby Reddy sex scandal?
Primedia reporters will also do their best to try and discredit me after I exposed Primedia Sport in a kickback scandal for a SA rugby commercial contract renewal. And they haven’t been able to answer any of my tough questions about LeadSA and how they benefit financially from all the sports parades and airport welcomes and send offs for SA Olympic teams.
Ironically, the lawyer representing SASCOC in my defamation case was Dario Milo who just happens to do work for both News24, Primedia and many other media houses.
Hollard’s business decision makes me sad for SA’s sportsmen and women as this was the one chance to get clean up SA sport.
My fight was for them.
Gideon Sam, Tubby Reddy and company should have had their day in court three years ago even though they would have withdrawn at some point, if the case ever got close to going to court.
The Hollard settlement made it easier for SASCOC to withdraw and I can now finally get on with my life after having this devious case with conflicted interests hanging over my head for four years and after devoting six hard and lonely years, exposing the corruption and maladministration in SA sport.
But again, I have no regrets.
I have my ethics and integrity as a sports journalist.
Best regards
- Graeme Joffe is a former CNN International and 94.7 sportscaster who investigates corruption in South African sport. He fled his homeland after being warned that his life was in danger.
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