Penny Penny sued for Cassper Nyovest claim

The mother of award-winning rapper Cassper Nyovest, Muzuki Phoolo, has filed a R1.5-miillion lawsuit against Shangaan disco musician Penny Penny and a weekly celebrity magazine for claiming that he was the hip-hop star's father.

Penny Penny, real name Eric Nkovani, will face the heat after he allegedly confirmed to Drum magazine during an interview in February that he was indeed Nyovest's father.

According to a court summons seen by Sunday World, Nyovest's 52-year-old mother, a retired senior public servant and a pastor at Saint John's Apostolic Church, is demanding R1.5-million from both Penny Penny and the magazine for defamation.

Nyovest's mother claims that the magazine failed to verify the allegations with her even though her son had denied them.

In the court documents she maintains that she never had a sexual relationship with Penny Penny and that she was never pregnant with his child.

She said Nyovest was born in wedlock and his father was Letsebela Phoolo.

Penny Penny confirmed that he had received a letter of demand from Phoolo's attorney.

"But I told them that I have nothing to do with the article because the magazine lied. I never told them that Cassper was my son. They lied because they wanted drama to sell their magazine. I told them that I have 18 kids, but when they asked me about rumours about Cassper being my son, I told them straight away that he is not," he said.

He revealed that he was going to be a witness in support of the legal action by Nyovest's mother against the magazine.

"I also wanted to sue them, but I could not go ahead because I did not have money because I'm poor. I cannot afford a lawyer with my R15000 salary of a councillor because my family also depends on it. But I met with the lawyers representing Cassper's mother and I told them I will help them in the case," Penny Penny said.

Connie Phakedi of Phakedi Attorneys confirmed they were taking legal action against the magazine and the Shangaan musician.

"We can confirm we lodged a lawsuit at the South Gauteng High Court against the magazine and Penny Penny after receiving instructions from our client."

She also confirmed that Penny Penny sought a meeting with her law firm after he received a letter of demand.

"He said he didn't tell the magazine that Cassper was his son. But our client insisted that he must be included as a defendant on the matter because if it was not for his interview the article was not going to be written."

Drum magazine editor Noluthando Mthethwa confirmed receipt of a letter of demand from Phoolo's attorneys but said the publication stood by its article.

"The matter is being handled by our legal department. As far as we know we only received a letter of intention to sue not a lawsuit. But as a publication we stand by our article and what we published," said Mthethwa.