Persverklaring – vir onmiddellike vrystelling / Press Release – for immediate release

03 March 2020

3 Maart 2020 / 3 March 2020

In die boek The Lost Boys of Bird Island en die vertaalde weergawe daarvan, Die seuns van Bird Island, word stellings gemaak wat daarop kan dui dat, alhoewel hy nie by name genoem word nie, mnr. Barend du Plessis betrokke kon wees by die seksuele mishandeling van minderjarige seuns. Hoewel daar pogings aangewend is om sy identiteit te verbloem, aanvaar NB-Uitgewers dat daar steeds voldoende inligting in die boeke voorkom om mnr. Du Plessis te identifiseer as ’n betrokkene.

Die gewraakte stellings kon nie onafhanklik geverifieer word nie.

NB-Uitgewers vra onvoorwaardelik verskoning vir die publikasie van hierdie bewerings tot die mate dat dit mnr. Du Plessis impliseer, en vir die gepaardgaande inbreuk op sy menswaardigheid en aantasting van sy reputasie, asook die emosionele skade wat dit vir hom en sy familie veroorsaak het.  Ten einde verdere verspreiding van die boek te beperk, het NB-Uitgewers reeds onverkoopte eksemplare van beide die Afrikaanse en Engelse uitgawes van die boek aan die handel onttrek en die e-boek is van aanlynplatforms vir e-handel verwyder.

Die verskoning is beperk tot mnr. Du Plessis en is nie van toepassing op enige ander persoon geïdentifiseer in die boek wat 'n rol gespeel het in die gebeure beskryf in die boek nie.  NB-Uitgewers sal enige poging om die boek en sy inhoud te diskrediteer in die toepaslike forum verdedig.   

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In the book The Lost Boys of Bird Island and its translated version, Die seuns van Bird Island, statements are made which may suggest that Mr Barend du Plessis, though not mentioned by name, might have been involved in the sexual abuse of underaged boys. While attempts were made to conceal his identity, NB Publishers accepts that the books contain sufficient information to identify Mr Du Plessis as an involved party.

The contested statements could not be verified independently. 

NB Publishers unreservedly apologises for the publication of these allegations to the extent that they implicate Mr Du Plessis, and for the attendant infringement of his dignity and impairment of his reputation, as well as the emotional distress this caused him and his family. In order to limit further distribution of the book, NB Publishers has withdrawn unsold copies of both the Afrikaans and English editions of the book from bookshops and the e-book has been removed from online e-trade platforms.

This apology is limited to Mr Du Plessis and does not extend to any other person identified in the book as having played a role in the events portrayed in the book. NB Publishers shall defend any attempt at discrediting the book and its contents in the appropriate forum.