DJ Fresh sues Sunday World

Correspondent | Wednesday February 14, 2007 00:00

 

The full story, which was written by one Ngwako Malatji, appeared on page two of the same paper. It accused DJ Fresh of stealing a song, Kom Kyk, from a group called Thabz Le Madonga. DJ Fresh did not take kindly to this story and got his lawyers to write a letter to the newspaper. In the letter (a copy of which showbiz has seen), his lawyers stated that DJ Fresh's tune, 'Ghetto Funk', uses a sample that the lawyers say is 'a software sample freely available for use to licensees'. They say the same sample was used on Kom Kyk, the song DJ Fresh is accused of stealing. The letter states that 'the track was produced by a third party' and that DJ Fresh 'had nothing to do with the recording or remixing of the track'.

'By no stretch of the imagination can the conclusion and defamatory headlines and article reached by the journalist be supported as being true or fair and self-evident,' the letter further states. 'The article demonstrates negligence on behalf of the journalist in relation to our client. The article is false and unlawful.'

The lawyers feel that by labelling DJ Fresh a thief, the paper defamed him and damaged his reputation, which he has built over the last ten years as 'a well known disc jockey, celebrity, personality and highly successful musician and business person.' They demanded an apology on the front page of the February 4, 2007 edition and a notice of apology on page 2 or 3 of the same paper. They further demanded an undisclosed amount of money as damages to his good name and reputation. 

The apology never appeared on the date on which it was demanded and it may be safe to assume that the matter may move on to the court of law unless an out of court settlement is reached.