By Rorisang Modiba
- Lebo M got a court order to stop his ex-wife Pretty Samuels from making damaging posts about him.
- The fight is over a R1.2-million piano, with a defamation lawsuit still to come if she doesn’t apologise.
Internationally known composer and producer Lebohang “Lebo M” Morake has won a court order against his ex-wife, Pretty Samuels, after she accused him of tax fraud and abuse on social media.
The drama started after a fight over a R1.2-million grand piano that Morake says Samuels stole from a rented storage unit in Sandton, Johannesburg.
The Johannesburg High Court gave Morake an urgent interdict last month to stop Samuels from making any more defamatory posts. She’s also been told to delete the ones already posted and publicly apologise.
A second person named in the interdict is a woman called Erin, who is said to have bought the disputed piano.
The court order, which Sunday World has seen, says Samuels is not allowed to post anything else that could harm Morake’s name. She also has to pay legal costs on an attorney-and-client basis.
Morake now has 30 days to launch a defamation lawsuit, which he says he plans to do.
It all started on 1 April when gossip site Maphepha Ndaba reported the piano was missing. Three days later, Samuels fired back on social media, saying the piano was part of their divorce and accusing Morake of being abusive and dodging tax.
“Someone please find this 61-year-old another wife so he stops giving me attention I don’t seek!” she posted.
In his affidavit, Morake called the post false and damaging. He said: “I am not an abuser, nor am I involved in any tax fraud activities. I am a person with integrity and am honest in my conduct.”
He said the post hurt both his reputation and his work. His lawyers sent Samuels a letter on 6 April asking for an apology and retraction, which she ignored.
“I gave the first respondent an opportunity to retract and apologise. She failed to do so,” he said. “The damages caused by such an offending statement will not be undone if she does not retract and apologise publicly.”
Pictured above: Lebo M and Pretty Samuels.
Image source: @pretty_samuels and @thereallebo_m
