Calderwood sues council for defamation

The film office, which issued permits for film and advertisement shoots in the city, was shut down in March after a raid by investigators looking into claims of financial irregularities. Calderwood and five other members of staff were suspended pending the investigations.

Last week attorneys for Calderwood served papers on the city council charging them with "intentionally and maliciously" passing on information of his suspension "on the grounds of alleged acts of dishonesty". It is claimed that this passing on of information led to newspaper reports of a lucrative syndicate operating out of the film office "under the noses of their bosses".

Calderwood's claiming of more than R2-million in damages is based on the fact that it was unlikely that the film office would be re-established with him as supervisor, and also unlikely that he would in the future be employed in a similar capacity to the position he held.

Council spokesman Charles Cooper has said that the city will be defending the action.