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Durban - A 46-year old divorcee tried to commit suicide after her son’s boyfriend posted messages on social media websites inviting people to have sex with her.
This emerged during the sentencing in the Durban Regional Court of Ezren Veerabuthran, who pleaded guilty to one charge of criminal defamation and one charge of crimen injuria.
He was ordered by magistrate Phumlani Bhengu to attend anger management courses.
In his written plea to the court Veerabuthran said that he had become angry with Vanitha Maharaj as she disapproved of her son’s relationship with him.
In response he published a post on Facebook calling the woman a "free bitch" along with her personal address for people to contact her.
He also admitted to texting her and sending her voice messages calling her a "3rd grade hoar [sic]" as well as various other numerous derogatory terms. He accused her of "sleeping with policemen" and "selling her arse and puss".
Should Veerabuthran commit a similar offence he will have to serve a six month jail sentence or pay a R5 000 fine.
In her victim impact statement that was read into court by prosecutor Roshiela Benimadho, Maharaj said that she had attempted to commit suicide.
"From the time of the incident till today the people who all see the advertisement contact me and ask me for services and what services I provide. For example blowjobs or threesomes."
The 46-year old divorcee said that as a result of the adverts many of her family members had distanced themselves from her.
"My son-in-law doesn't want my daughter and grandchildren to come and visit me all because of this."
She said work colleagues had picked up on the adverts and her situation at work had become uncomfortable and that her relationship with her then boyfriend ended over the advertisement.
She said she was taking medicine to help her sleep at night.
"I have a job where I have to have a lot of concentration, and I had to miss out on work... for which I did not get paid because of all of this defamation from the accused."
Benimadho said the case was "tantamount to cyberbullying". She had called for a R15 000 fine.
