Controversial author Ronald Suresh Roberts has finally paid the Sunday
Times the R1-million he was ordered to hand over by a high court judge, writes Amukelani Chauke in the Sunday Times.
This comes after the newspaper issued a warrant of execution against Roberts for missing his payment deadline .
Roberts had sued the Sunday Times for a total of R400000 for damages over an article, “The unlikeable Mr Robertsâ€ÂÂ, published in 2004.
Roberts lost the case, with Cape High Court Judge Leslie Weinkove describing him in his January 2007 judgment as haughty, arrogant, vindictive, venomous and paranoid .
Judge Weinkove awarded costs to the newspaper.
Sunday Times lawyer Eric van den Berg said this week that Roberts had been given until March this year to settle, after he had asked for time to raise the money. When he failed to meet this deadline, a warrant of execution was issued  although it was held over when Roberts showed he was taking steps to make payment.
Van den Berg said Roberts had needed time to raise the money, via a mortgage on a Cape Town property he jointly owns with his wife.
In May, Roberts paid R750000, and R250000 this month. He still owes about R105000 in interest.
Click here to read the full report, posted on thetimes.co.za.
