GEDA backs down on its Jack Bloom tirade

The Gauteng Economic Development Agency (GEDA) has unconditionally retracted "all words that may be perceived to be insulting or defamatory" in their media release issued on 23 February 2009 (see here) that disputed my claim that their former CEO Carl Niehaus received a lavish farewell party.

This climb down by GEDA is in reply to a lawyer's letter I sent threatening to sue them for defamation.

According to the letter I have received from MAJAVU Inc, the lawyers for GEDA, "our clients accept that the language used in the said media release, including but not limited to referring to Mr Bloom as ‘iritic' (sic), ‘somebody who has history of harvesting own lies', was unfortunate, as the author's intention was certainly not to embarrass, insult or impair Mr Bloom' dignity in any manner."

The broader issue is that GEDA's media spokesperson, Mr Barba Gaoganediwe, is a public servant who should act professionally and impartially, rather than lashing out in a defamatory manner against a critical politician (see here).

Apart from being defamatory, his statement was poorly written, including errors like "modus of operandi", "disregard of basic journalistic tenant" and "the irritic Mr Bloom".

I have also written to Gauteng Finance MEC Mandla Nkomfe regarding Mr Gaoganediwe's conduct, as it falls foul of the public service code of conduct.

GEDA's retraction will hopefully mean that it reacts more reasonably to criticism in future, providing a proper explanation rather than a personalised tirade.

Statement issued by Jack Bloom MPL, Democratic Alliance leader in the Gauteng legislature, March 16 2009