Ruling for damages of R1.2m revoked in ‘racist’ pub row

The Western Cape High Court in Cape Town rescinded a default judgment against Christopher Logan, which ordered him to pay damages of R1.25 million to Hanks Olde Irish Pub on Bree Street after accusing the establishment of racism.

- Faizel Patel

Judge Nathan Erasmus handed down the ruling on Monday. Logan filed the rescission application in December last year, nullifying the default judgment handed down in November. He must file his notice of intention to defend the main actions tomorrow.

“The third defendant [John Papadakis] in the action is to file a plea by 11 September, and the plaintiffs are to file replications, if any, by 2 October. Cost is to stand for later determination,” Erasmus ruled.

The matter stems from a 2022 incident in which Logan called out the pub for an alleged racist incident in a video that was widely circulated on social media platforms.