An agreement to withdraw defamatory allegations against a leading South African Jewish communal official and pay token damages and costs has marked the end of a court action in which Gus Saron, General Secretary of the South African Jewish Board of Deputies sued S. Datt, a Johannesburg businessman, for defamation arising from the publication by Mr. Datt of a sheet termed “The Jewish Newsletter.”
Published at irregular intervals over the last two years the newsletter is largely devoted to a campaign against the Board of Deputies and leading persons associated with it. Mr. Datt mailed his newsletter gratis to a large number of people, and urged readers not to contribute money to the United Communal Fund, which meets the Board’s budget and that of several other Jewish organizations.
Several attempts were made by leaders of the Board to persuade Mr. Datt to stop his campaign, but without result. Finally Mr. Saron brought legal action for 5,000 pounds damages in connection with the defamation of himself as general secretary of the Board of Deputies. Approaches were made by Mr. Datt to settle the matter out of court and an agreement was finally achieved this week-end in terms of which Mr. Datt withdraws his allegations, undertakes to apologize in writing in the Jewish press, and pay 350 pounds in token damages and the costs of the action.
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