By Melanie Nathan, July 08, 2012.
Photographer Robert Collins
Coenie Kukkuk is a man who wears many hats. He is a founder and director of the South African for profit all male beauty pageant, Mr. GAY SOUTH AFRICA (PTY) LTD; he is the director of the lucrative annual Pink Loerie festival in Knysna, and also a practicing attorney in Pretoria, South Africa, who writes an opinion column for a South African Blog, Queerlife, titled “Coenie Kukkuk’s African Fairytales” where he described himself as “Lawyer, activist and a member of South Af(r)ica’s gay social elite….” But in truth what we have is a wardrobe of interchangeable hats that have served to silence a portion of the gay community.
We all know that pageants are held around the world where title holders take on the task of supporting charities and causes.
This is indeed a noble quest and I would venture to say that the organization of Mr. GAY South Africa, may seem to have set out to do the same. However, it went beyond. Given the context of South Africa, which is unlike any other country in the world, the pageant Mr. Gay South Africa, has attached itself to a significant measure of white male elitism, with a token black or two, and has been unable to lift itself beyond mere invitations to inclusiveness.
Now for the most part this may not seem to be that important in the big scheme of things, but it is and its importance lies in the fact that the Mr. GAY SA pageant has declared its winners to be the Ambassadors for LGBTI rights in South Africa. If a muscle, brawn and beauty were to truly earn such title then it should not be set up as exclusionary. But the political and economic landscape has made it impossible for all to participate, not to mention the sexism, and hence the mission statement of the pageant is a misrepresentation.
When I wrote my articles criticizing the contest and further articles calling for the current Mr. GAY SA to renounce his claims to ambassadorship, people commented on social media and Coenie Kukkuk did not like what he read. This resulted in him going all out to solicit what we call “trolls” to bad mouth every comment on every article I wrote on the subject. Mr. Kukkuk would himself appear on my site and other sites, using pseudonyms, tracked back to him, with comments that were quite derogatory. But hey who am I to complain when I write, I do believe I am fair game.
What I do not do is send letters threatening lawsuits. Instead I ignore or clarify – that is it!
Since I started speaking out against the way Mr. GAY SA describes itself and its process of judging the next so called “LGBTI Ambassador.” I have received scores of letters of support from the South African gay and LGBTI community. However there has been a awful and revealing common denominator in these letters. The community is terrified to speak out, afraid of being sued by Coenie Kukkuk, the lawyer who profits from his directorship in Mr GAY SA. PTY LTD and who seems to have a habit of sending out threatening letters.
Many have asserted their upset and dissatisfaction with the pageant. Some have said they would like to enter, but cannot afford to do so, because it is set up in a way that only those with substantial (South African context) money can afford to do. Others have explained how they become “unpaid volunteers” to the “for-profit” enterprise, where they give up valuable work time to do the bidding of the contest. The prizes are few and not lucrative, and much of being a contestant is self funded. This means that the average black man in a Township far from Johannesburg has no chance of entering and some of the white men , who have entered, have left the pageant feeling depleted. Others have expressed upset and being silenced by Kukkuk when complaining about a myriad of issues, perhaps the subject of another post.
It is clear that as a means of silencing people, Kukkuk’s protocol is to send “gag” letters. These take the form of intimidating ‘cease and desist’ letters threatening court action and even worse, threatening criminal arrest and prosecution, if the person complains or publicly criticizes the pageant.
I have decided to publish an example of such letter here, below. This letter was written, signed and faxed by Coenraad Kukkuk on his law firm letterhead to a gay identified man by the name of Rudi Holtzhausen. It was sent to Mr. Holtzhausen’s place of work with a cover sheet saying “personal.” However its mode of delivery rendered it impersonal and apparently Mr. Holtzhausen’s superiors were able to read it. It was passed on to Mr. Holtzhausen via electronic transfer from his work place.
The purpose of bringing this into the open is to expose Kukkuk and hs methods for all to see, in the hope that Mr. GAY SA (PTY) LTD. cease and desist from trying to shut people up who have complaints about the organization. Given the public nature of this ambassadorship all critique ought to be public and for all to see. Another reason is to expose the hypocrisy of someone who is wearing too many hats.
From the letter one can note:-
1. Mr Kukkuk is in effect representing himself, calling his own enterprise, albeit a legal persona, where he is a director ” my client.” This serves to enhance the intimidating impact of the letter;
2. Kukkuk fails to tell Holtzhausen what the actual comments/ remarks were ; he asserts are defamatory and damaging remarks – but does not provide the specific offending comments in his letter – hence the vagueness of the letter renders it to wide and ineffective, making it clear that it was intended as an intimidating threat only to silence the man in general;
3. Kukkuk fails to specifically assert what damages he has suffered;
4. Kukkuk is calling himself the “Plaintiff”and Mr. Holtzhausen, the “Defendant,” as a means of intimidation – because he has yet to file a court action, so there is in fact NO Plaintiff nor a Defendant – not until there is a case in court;
5. Days have gone by and so the twenty four hour response threat was indeed an idle threat and attempt to silence voice this on Facebook;
6. Kukkuk has a very weak case if indeed he brings an action – it will be very difficult to provide evidence of actual damages suffered by the so called comments – and if he did lose R250,000 because of any comment that may have been made by Mr. Holtzhausen, he will have to show his books and the very profitable business in Mr. GAY SOUTH AFRICA. He attributes enormous power to Mr. Holtzhausen. Also if something was said that is slander then it must be proved to be false. Good luck Kukkuk!
7. To add insult to injury Kukkuk sent this letter to the work of Mr. Holtzhausen, via fax for all to see, alluding to him using Facebook during work hours, with the clear intent of causing embarrassment and harm to Mr. Holtzhausen . This indicates the retributive nature of the communication. What happened to regular mail? Holtzhausen may well have a strong claim or counterclaim against Mr. Kukkuk for this indiscretion;
8. If it can be ascertained that this is a frivolous threat Mr. Kukkuk should be reported to the Law Society.
The Letter:
—————————————————————
RUDI HOLTZHAUSEN
(Work name and
address redacted)Dear Sir,
Re: PLAINTIFF: MR. GAY SOUTH AFRICA (PTY) LTD. / DEFENDANT: YOURSELF
We refer to the above and wish to confirm that we act g=herein on behalf of MR. GAY SOUTH AFRICA (PTY) LTD.
It is our instructions that you have and still are actively causing damage to our clients in that you post defamatory and/or libellous remarks and posts on the internet social network Facebook.com and/or on other internet portals, during and/or after office hours, despite being warned not to do so.
Our clients have instructed to convey that unless you:
- remove or delete any posts and/or remarks, as well as all other remarks referring to or regarding our clients, directly or indirectly, or through veiled references or innuendo, be immediately from Facebook.com and all other internet sites and proof of same be given to this firm in writing;
- a written undertaking is received from you by close of business on Wednesday 04 July 2012 that no such libellous and/or defamatory remarks, directly or indirectly, through veiled reference to our client or through innuendo, either in public or in private to any other persons, will be made in speech or in writing, posted by you during office hours or otherwise in future;
Our Clients will proceed to
- lay a charge with the SAPS of crimen inuria against you;
- institute action against you for damages in the High Court of South Africa for each of our clients in the amount of R250,000.00., but not limited thereto, or any other amount they deem fit;
- apply to the High Court of South Africa for an interdict on an urgent basis, barring you from continuing with such actions,
costs, estimated at no les sthan R20 000.00 but not limited thereto, of whatever action or application instituted, you will be liable for.
Please give this matter your urgent attention as it could have sever consequences.
We wait to hear from you in writing within 24 hours.
Yours,
COENRAAD KUKKUK ATTORNEYS——————————————–
So here is my own message to Coenie Kukkuk: – your game is up. Too many people have reported receiving similar letters. I have no doubt I will receive more after this and who knows perhaps even my own cease and desist. Most often when someone criticizes you and your organization, with valid remarks, you send out these letters, instead of validating and addressing the actual concerns. Do you have something to hide?
In basic parlance, Mr. Kukkuk, this is not apartheid days anymore, even though you admit in your blog you are of the social elite. This is no longer a place where people are told by the boss or the “white man in power” to shut up or go to jail! You have no right to silence your critics. Freedom of speech and expression of opinion is not slander. For as long as you think your pageant winner is an Ambassador for the community – you are an open book. Time to stop the bullying and face the reality and the critics of your enterprise.
Perhaps a courageous Mr. Hotlzhausen is the one who may stand up to you, your bullying and your threats. I would certainly encourage him to find a lawyer to see if he should sue you for the harm you may have caused him by sending this sordid letter to his employers, which by doing so, you in effect made public. I would hope that the unethical standards displayed by you in this endeavor are picked up by the South African Law Society and you receive the discipline you deserve.
UPDATES: Since posting this Article I have received numerous e-mails, mostly confidential from other members of South Africa’s GAY community as well as contestants and sponsors with stories elucidating their perspectives of the Mr GAY South Africa operation. Some of those stories include reference to similar letters such as the one above – including the fact that another such letter was sent by the office of Mr. Coenraad Kukkuk to an employer. In that event, the person who received the letter alleges he suffered being “outed” at work and hardship as a result of the communication.
———————————————
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Mr KUKKUK is part of the KK KLAN. He is not one of the Elite, They ahve put themselves there by themselves, The GAY community in SA don’t like KUKKUK and his Klan. He has sent many letters like this and tries to intimidate everyone with threatening calls and mails and they keep coming. I am sad that Mr KUKKUK thinks he owns the LGBTI community. SORRY for you Mr C KUKKUK. but you are damaged goods as far as I see it.
I think it is then time for thew gay community to speak with thier “pink rands” because that is what he wants….. boikot the Pink Loerie!!
I think you mean BOYcot….a ‘boikot’ is a cradle for a South African male.
I think it’s actually time for all my fellow gay community members to speak out with thier ‘Pink Rants’.
The South African (so-called) community is one of the most insipid, small-minded and self-obsessed that I have ever unfortunately experienced.
Man up and DO something, as this author is doing.
GUYS THIS A KUKKUK COMMENT. BE WARNED ! HE IS ONE EVIL MAN !!
Then i think it is high time that the gay community speak up with their “pink rands”, since that is what he is after….. just don’t go to the Pink Loerie….
I still have to find your motives for this counter attack between yourself and Mr Gay South Africa. Are we not a world searching for equality and peace and also to stand together and break this attitude of dividing ourselves into groups. This is the time were we should be embracing each other and supporting different organizations that aims to educate the world about LGBTI rights. Also we can learn from each other, and this is what the rest of the world expected; a division between a community and anger between it’s members. May I ask if you also have the same opinion about the Mr Gay World organization?
THIS IS ALL ABOUT EQUALITY YES AND THAT is why I wrote this.
I do not have any information on the MR GAY WORLD and its ownership or practices. I was very happy the competition came to SA. IT brought excellent LGBTI PR and I wrote about it a lot. I also think that it should create standards for how the people who qualify for it are selected. In an international context it is a lot different – to a local context – where the participants are chosen country by country already – But I do not know enough about how it impacts the contenders financially to comment.
I have not received complaints and stories about it in the same way as I did about MR GAY SA. I agree this is about equality etc. That is why I am compelled to write my pieces about this. It is not okay for someone to try to control the message through an illegitimate ambassador and silence others. THAT DOES NOT HELP attain equality, Mr. CK has tried to shut down voices, refused alliances and put down other organizations which have tried to work for equalit6y. I have not even written THAT story yet because I am trying to protect the people concerned and to NOT get them involved in controversy that would result.
I support the protection of the free word. I cannot judge in this story but I can tell that I look upon Conie’s approach as very unhealthy for the gay community and for any democratic civilized country.
I myself have tried being threatened by Coenie and I did what he wanted me to do – not because I am afraid of him – but to protect others of my friends.
Now the situation has changed. I will not keep silent anymore as you can see in my below comment.
Coenie might try to sue me here in Denmark – but I am not sure our judges will take his claims seriously.
TO have an all white male beauty pageant and then call its winner THE AMBASSADOR FOR SA LGBTI RIGHTS is divisive. That is what started this and that is what needs to be fixed. The exploitation of saying someone is SA’s ambassacdor and its a for profit enterprise making money. Imagine how diff it would be if it were an NGO And if ALL could afford to participate? and if it was not only for men? Cant people see how “exclusive: and elite that is especially in SA context. THAT is where the divisiveness starts – not here on these pages and until Coenie Kukkuk changes his mission statement – starts making his competition more accessible to all, reimburse people for their time and trouble when they participate, treating people fairly, allow people to complain and then enters a dialogue to sort out the complaint instead of sending out threatening letters, apologizes to people he has hurt, ….etc…. i could go on
Andre your comments need review by your educaters.
**Educators ;-)
Coenie Kukkuk has done more for the gay community in SA than a lot of other people…. who is Melanie Nathan and what exactly have you done Ms Nathan for SA’s gay community? I am sure Rudi knows what he has done… why is the writer not stating this? Was this matter taken up with Coenie before the blog was written? Maybe this was the only contact details they had for Rudi? This seems like nothing more than
mud slinging
There has been a lot more behind the scenes to this article. For months people have been writing to me about Coenie threatening them. This is only one story – there are many more. Now even mre are coming to my private email since I wrote this less than 24 hours ago. If you want to know what I have done for the SA LGBT community, please feel free to explore this BLOG and my online CV.
It is with great regret that I can reveal a similar experience, which saw my tenure as Director of Africa usurped by the very people I worked tirelessly to support and promote. I have long led the battle a Mr Gay can only be that. An attempt was made to force Mr Gay World to be Gay World Ambassador some years ago which was defeated by my arguments about the fact that any member if the lgbti community can and must be an ambassador. Too often these events which have potential to draw positive attention to the gay rights agenda are descending into photo opportunities of just being very fit young gay men being photographed in speedos running around a field at a sports challenge. Having delivered MGW to SA and always paying my own expenses. Once I delivered the event to SA I found myself blocked from websites, threatened, bullied and ousted. I found out in August that the deal had been done since the previous May by my friends. This is truly a sad outcome of an ego gone mad! It doesn’t mean however that the contestants and winners have not been very fine people. They are. There is alsi a great team supporting these events that do the lgbti community proud. But i have attracted more black contestants in Ireland than in SA.But it’s a free world that thrives on cooperation not on control freaks. I am saddened but not the least bit surprised by the contents of this blog! It is regrettably reflects my own shared experience. My true friends in SA saw me through such bullying and we are wiser for it!
Thank yu for being open here about this. I know it is hard given the threats. THANK YOU for coming forward.
Just as Brian I have quite similar experiences. So sad to see this replicating again and again.
Mr. Kukkuk how can you claim to represent all Gay men in South Africa when you organization only chooses to represent affluent White Gay men. As the majority of gay men in South Africa are not affluent and are not White, your organization at best only represents a tiny minority of South African Gay men. How pretentious to claim the winners of your beauty contest to be your self appointed Ambassadors of the LGBTI community.
I am sorry Mr. Kukkuk, but in my opinion you don’t even represent most of the South African LGBTI community and no one appointed yoU a member of the alleged elite of the community, nor as representing the community In any way.
In my opinion it is sad that as some gay men age, they desperately cling to their delusions and act foolishly. Now in the Internet age foolishness can be seen around the world. The Gay community world wide does not suffer fools kindly.
Hi there Melanie. Very good article, but I can’t say that I agree or dis-agree with you on this. My personal opinion and believe with the work we also do is to support all those people who support the GLBTI community. I never personally met Mr Kukkoek in my life before, just met him through social media where he always post free links and resources, including free job classifieds for the GLBTI community. I’m sure he must have some passion for spending all that hours every night promoting GLBTI community. Must say that he is always the first to let everyone know about important events and news.
MR Gay SA being upmarket? I also placed some very nasty comments in the past against the regional planning, but must admit that they have to cut a fine line if you want the person to represent the GLBTI community of South Africa.
I also recall their BIG drive last year to promote more black people entering into the competition. (you can go back on both MRGSA and Coenies Facebook Timeline to check – should be last year the same time as now). Also had a look at some of the post’s on “Mr Gay South Africa” facebook page last week were they clearly state that “MR Gay South Africa” is not a “joke”, but if you believe that one of your friends must enter to contact them. For me that sends out a different message.
I do not agree with the above letter, I also don’t not know what led to issues this letter to Rudie. I also know that some of the comments above is not true.
Just hoping that we can change the focus to “Gay Conversion Bill boards in Gauteng” and the almost weekly GLBTI killings in South Africa. Half our community members don’t even know about the recent killings the past two weeks.
Great comment and thank you Ezra. Agreed –
Someone needed to do something to stop all the behind the scene threats that go on. These threats created fear and caused silence in community. If I had permission I would print all the letters I have received, including those from contestants themselves who felt taken advantage of. Not one, not two, many!
Some even report being asked by CK to lie about why they left the competition for PR purposes and when refusing to lie were threatened… sorry this has to stop! ….. there is just so much…
I would never have done an article like this if it were isolated to one letter or one incident. But it is not. I have many many letters from others who asked to be kept confidential. So this type of letter is endemic.
Even if MR GAY SA reaches out to everyone – the way it is set up – many who may qualify cannot afford to enter because of economics. If that is okay – just do not say that the competition winner is the LGBTI ambassador for SA.
I hope people realize that this all has NOTHING to do with our mutual struggle for global fight against homophobia and for equality – to expose the dishonesty and the bullying wis important even in the context of our own struggle.
Thank you for your comments.
Yes focus is important, Ezra and if you look at my blog I have ben relentless in my reporting on he homophobia and violence – I have probably written more articles on the LGBT killings, the Traditional leaders, etc than anyone – I certainly have not lost my focus on what is important. In fact my work appears on these issues in other important and popular blogs too such as Advocate, Gay Star News, LGBTQ NAtion and SDGLN etc.
Thank you so very much Ms Nathan. We as the communtiy need someone to stand up to the hierarchy which this coenie kukkuk has created. there are serveral comments above but those pertaining to or supporting the ‘kukkuk’ clan. We as as society are disgraced by your abuse of a innocent gay man who has rights like any other human being in South Africa. Your threats have been noted to have been made to numerous gay memebers country wide. You yourslef are a foolish man as we are going to report you to the legal affairs board. you are hereby requested and i speak on behalf of the paentire gay community , to apologize in writing to Mr Holtzhauzen for your attempted defamation of his character. all other persons , persona , organisations , representaives , alliances , confidantes your colleagues and your Pink Loerie event are hereby notified of the following. We will not support any of your events including but not linited to the ‘Pink Loerie’ and MR gay South Africa. We will be consulting with parliament concerning your secret attempt to undermine the authorities of South Africa by creating this facade you are hiding behind. Thank you to the advoctaes who have offered us their assisttance but no amount of justice will bring back the tremendous amount of damage you have caused South Africa !!. We are ashamed of you and demand that you cancel the MR Gay South Africa thp
We demand an immediate cancellation of your Pink Loerie and your Mr gay S.A.
just who do you think you are ?
We do not need you or your publicity campaign. you , Mr ck are the reason for a drug abuse amongst others in their quest to keep up to your ideal gay Man! WE have had enough of your self proclaimed hierarchy.
Hi There! All I can say is well done! I am a partner of a Gay Night Club in SA and have heard of this Kukkuk’s threats from friends and patrons!
I feel the ONLY people to name and claim their right to be called an ambassador to the LGBT Community are the one’s who fight for our rights in Parliament!
Further more everyone else is merely a community member!
Mr Gay SA Is NOT a representative for the community if we didn’t vote for him right?
Also with Mr Kukkuk’s claims to his Social Elite Status, I doubt very much that he would be on a guest list with the likes of Edith etc? Questionable status’ are in fact a huge issue when it comes to certain people of our community!
I also agree that Mr Holtzhausen and the other many threatened people should seek legal advise if not that then surely this Blog with your letters can cause some sort of stir up with Carte Blanch or other media houses!
Do not let people bully you there are more than just one “powerful” “Social Butterfly” Lawyers out there! Always remember that!
Agree totally with you there Leon. The Mr GSA if any should be the one or members who have lost their lives !! not the most elite !! abolutely upsetting.this kukkuk man is causing a lot of international negative publicity by doing this , instead of just hearing the requests of the people he so called represents to cancel this event. its not necessart in light of the circumstances in S.A.
I have said this before, and I will say it again… the mud slinging parade that is going on currently is only causing the entire gay community to look like a bunch of unorganised imbeciles. We should be presenting a front of solidarity to the rest of the world. People posting negative comments on social networks should have the balls to confront the people they are attacking, directly (and BEHIND THE SCENES). Then there will be no need for legal letters to be send to anyone.
As for the so called “gay elite”, we all know that to be utter bullshit (excuse my language), and anyone claiming to be part of such an elitist group can quite frankly go and jump in the river.
Nowhere in the article above do you state what prompted the legal letter from CK? What exactly did Mr Holtzhausen say on facebook to warrant such a response? And I still fail to understand how people can be so scared of one person?? Are the members of the gay community of South Africa seriously such a bunch of ignorant and spineless people that one person can embed such a state of fear in them? Really??
As I read these posts, and some of the responses, I must say I am actually very happy that I made the decision to distance myself from this community. The gay community of S.A is a joke. Gay people are being killed in this country because of their sexuality, yet people feel the need to insult and belittle each other rather than focus on what is really important. Anyone who claims to have the best interests of the entire community at heart, would do their utmost to create a forum of unity, and try their best to bring the community together instead of digging up dirt and making silly comments on social networks (and blogs) or sending legal letters left right and centre.
Get your acts together, the lot of you, work together, and maybe, just maybe you may actually achieve something other than creating further division within the community.
Well said. This needed to be exposed. Mr CK has sent too many such letters Since writing this article you cannot believe how many more stories have come forward but want to remain anonymous. So yes when people get a legal letter from an attorney threatening crimen inuria and jail they ARE SCARED. I believe CK has abused is law letterhead too often. yes Unity is important. Threats are divisive…. they have to stop
I dont know Coennie , but have spoken to him on social networks , this statement isvery scary , i was under the impression that the money made from Mr Gay SA goes to the less forunate in the gay comunnity and if we are truelly going to find our LGBT Representative then how can we ask them to pay to take part , that’s not fair ?? Im not saying I agree with what you are saying but someone is going to have to check things out, and SOON !!
Is this a is a typical example of a man gone mad? The SO-CALLED Mr Gay South Africa pageant and its lawyer-owner Coenie Kukkuk should be investigated further by more journalists based on the many individual reports from sponsors and contestants that are linked to intimidation. If this pageant is trying to be an ambassador for its country, its country should know what goes on behind thei scenes (and in this case, seems to be a very dark and ugly one….)
Hi Melanie, has Mr. Holtzhausen showed you the comments he made towards Coenie Kukkuk on Facebook? If you did take that into consideration your article wouldn’t be as one sided and biased as what it usually is. I would like to see these so called ‘other letters’ you have from Coenie. You are already famous for having phantom or ghostly sources or evidence. Obviously you won’t post my comments on your slimy bog-blog as you yourself deny others their freedom of expression to criticise your views. Do you have any idea how much damage your misrepresentations is causing? You won’t even have an idea because you are not involved with the communities that are affected by this.
Thank you for commenting Carla. As you know I moderate comments on my site. If I am as you say, i would not have put yours up or that of some of the other critics here. I stand behind my article. As a blogger if someone asks me to keep a confidentiality then I abide. I will not publish letters sent where people say “please keep confidential” – sorry they remain “phantom” but I am not going to break confidentiality to please you. However more comments are coming in where people are telling stories openly online – so perhaps you can keep your eye on the comments section for now. If I get any permission from others I will add their letters gladly. Communities are affected by people who try and silence them. That is what this seeks to change… again thank you for commenting and for reading my blog.
Carla are you reprsenting kukkuk. if not you should consider struying towards your llb. else all you say as usual is empty vessel phenomena. where was coenie when funerals were taking place for the MURDERED gay n lesbians !!! WHERE !!!!!!!!
Carla, you are sounding a bit emotional here. Miss Nathan writes from the pont of FACTS not viewpoints.The threatening letter does NOT indicate what Mr. Holtshausen had said, so how can she write about it? That is not the point though. To send a threatening letter like that TO SOMEONE’S WORK / OFFICE WHERE CO-WORKERS WILL OBVIOUSLY SEE IT IS THE LOWEST FORM OF LOW. This means that the sender will go this far to destroy individuals NO MATTER WHAT (to soothe his psychopathic ego) and THIS HAS TO STOP. What an ugly nasty man do do such a thing.
Carla, so what did Rudi do? We all would love to know. I dont know Rudi myself except that we know him by his constant post on facebook of the Gay Party.
I do not take sides of Coenie also, but unfortunately the story is not complete and something is missing. Obviously there is two sides to the story and something surely had to drive Coenie this mad.
There seems to be a lot of things driving Coenie mad Ezra because I am getting many stories sent to my e-mail. I do not understand how one man can send so many cease and desist letters and threaten so many law suits. It seems as if Coenie Kukkuk is a big victim of many terrible people or the other way around. You would be shocked at the e-mails I have received. I would not have exposed this letter if not for the fact that there are many more. All those others wanted confidentiality.
Good Day Mrs Nathan or Ms Nathan,
The photographed used in this post belongs to me,
Would you please be so kind to remove this photograph, with IMMEDIATE effect,
I do not want my hardwork to be assosciated with this type of derogative content.
And no, this is not a threat. This is infact, a violation of my copyright.
You did not ask for permission to use this photograph?. Who the hell do you think you are, to take without asking from a hardworking individual?.
I trust the above is in order,
Kindest Regards
Kyle Correia De Araujo
Director/Photographer
Dear Kyle – Read the rules of Facebook. When a photo appears on FB you lose your copyright to the “FAIR USE” law. I am in the USA ans follow that law. If you do not want your pics used for “FAIR USE” then do not allow them on Facebook. How do I know this is your picture – I did not get it from your site nor you FB page, but from someone else’s. That said I have a choice of many pictures and would be only too happy to remove the one you claim to be yours. I am sorry you think truth to be derogatory. Each unto his own. None of what I wrote is made up. The awful letter threatening “prison” has Mr. CK’s signature on it…. Thanks for reading my work. I hope you check in again soon.
Wow, there I also learn something today.
Kyle Correia De Araujo. you are next on the list of been an abuser of your rights in the gay community !. Keep your temper tantrums at home or for your friends. This is not your entry to control or debate issues or graphics on this blog. keep your mouth shut ! This is not your forum to be throwing your weight around like the rest of South Africa are used to recieving from you.
I would like to extend my support on this matter. I’ve seen first hand how self-involved, cruel and malicious Coenie can be.
It takes balls to fight back after what Mr. Holtzhausen has been subjected to. It’s very admirable and serves to show the gay community what the character of an actual role model looks like.
I will not wish Coenie any harm, rather I sincerely hope that this article serves as the wake up call the gay community needs to finally give Mr. Kukkuk exactly what he deserves.
Thank you, Mr Holtzhausen, for having your story told, and thank you Ms. Nathan for telling it!
I had an interesting run-in with Mr K…I was attempting to start up a G&L online TV station here in SA and was on the lookout for material. I thought an interview with Mr Gay SA would be a cool insert and contacted Mr K because I had to have his permission to do the interview. The response I got was quite interesting. Basically I was invited to cover the Pienk Loerie festival and have access to Mr Gay SA, but only if I paid a fee and if I created a DVD for them to sell at future Pienk Loeries. I thought this was so ridiculous…here I am, trying to promote the community and it seems like they (Mr Gay SA, the company) are only in it for the money! I gave up the whole thing as a bad idea….
One of many stories thanks for coming forward Kathi – many want to remain anonymous for fear of legal reprisal
Koekie’s claim to fame sounds dangerously UNCONSTITUTIONAL…. report it to the ANC as unrepresentative and watch old Derby’s Castle burn to the ground…. !!!!
No one wants a mudslinging match. But there is another danger in any community gay or otherwise. In the name of keeping up appearances and unity, problems get ignored and shoved under the rug.Those problems do not go away.They fester, grow bigger and worse. So when they finally explode into view, they tear the community apart sometimes taking decades to repair the damage.
No, it is better to face a problem and take action while it remains small, while the correction will only hurt a little. The biggest dangers will not be from the outside.
There are people that will never accept us, no matter what we do, so we don’t bother with them more than we have to. We are working towards the people that have a slightly open mind and who by seeing us as individual people move away from stereotype thinking.
No when we are in a the closet, it matters little to the community what we say or do. It is when we come out of the closet, that the responsibility to the rest of the community comes in to play. Those that claim to represents are the ones that can do a lot of good or a lot of harm to us. We have every right as a community to require and higher standards of people who constantly put themselves in the media spot light, especially when they claim to represent us and are making money off us as well. We have man that is making a great deal of money off the Gay community. So the question is the money he is making reasonable and does what he gives back worthy of the price. When someone is making a good deal of money off the LGBTI community we have every right to ask if we are getting our money’s worth and if the person is doing it for the community or if he only doing it for the profit.
No one person represents the entire community there are no official leaders in the community, though there may be some hard working people doing work for it without charge. I tend to value the volunteers more than those that are getting paid for it. I know that the volunteers are not doing it for how much money they can make off it.
Hi Melanie,
I am asking you nicely, once again to please remove the photograph.
The photograph is definitely mine, I can in-fact pull the EXIF information embedded in the photograph and prove it to you if need be.
You claim you got it from ”facebook”, this is not facebook melanie. It’s wordpress.
I don’t want to start an online war or issues, contrary to how you manage your opinions, infact I don’t want to be a part of this at all, I don’t know you, nor do wish to know about you or from you. And you do not have the right to just do whatever you want with content that is not yours.
I am not interested in mr kukkuks business, nor as mr Hotlzhausen.
I’m sorry but this is wrong, you cannot just take whatever you want and still try and justify your wrongful actions.
Please, for the last time. Remove it.
Thanks
Kyle Correia De Araujo
You clearly want this public or yuu would not be writing to me on my comments when my Private email is blasted all across the BLOG. Yes I am taking it down as I said. Remember I am on a diff time zone so sometimes comments etc take longer to go up. I do moderate. The only comments i exclude are ones with foul language and that are abusive. So yours went up as soon as I got to it. I did say I would take it down and that is what I plan to do now.
HOWEVER lesson for future – LOOKUP “FAIR USE ” law and you will see that in this context having obtained the photo from Facebook – I am acting in accordance with The Fair Use doctrine. What I am saying is that YOUR PICTURE was uploaded to Facebook and not on your own wall even – somewhere else. But its moot anyway…
marksbrutha™ is stunned to say the least >>
Well kyle you certainly hv got the publicity u were or weren’t looking for.not too sure its positive for you or from an educated mature mind set.but yes Melanie. Kyle is still a little man so let’s not scare him.let’s be gentle with the youngster.
How did he get away with all of this?
Message from author -I find it fascinating that this article has had a much larger readership than any single article – and I have written scores and scores – about the violence or about my opinions on Holomisa and the Traditional Chiefs. Seems to me the GAY MEN of the CK elite who have crawled all over this – especially are more interested in this than in the violence or homophobia that is going on in South Africa. I urge all of you who have commented either for or against the intent behind this article to please keep visiting this and other websites that talk about the violence in South Africa -the violence against those who are NOT in the social elite club so eloquently defined by Coenie Kukkuk. I guess I have rocked your world with this Kukkuk article. I had hoped that the articles about the murder of our brothers and sister would have rocked it harder – but I was wrong! This got wayyyy too much attention. It was designed to help stop Kukkuk from sending more threatening letters to employers – I hope it did at least that and maybe even a wake up call to all to climb out of the elitism that does exist and help each other.
Melanie. You are an angel in disguise iro of our Kukkuk revolution. He is due for any reprimanding and/or law suits against him by his OWN doing. was he perhaps under the influence of something when faxing a letter to an innocent gay mans employers fax. he needs to step down from his representation of ‘whatever’; as he is the cause of heartache in South Africa. i alone can send yoy numerous complaints recieved about this man and its disgusting to say the least. i have already consulted with a local television company to take him on. they are all too interested.:-) Keep up the good morale in this blog and thank you once again for representing by way of this blog a misreprsented Gay South africa.
Bwahaha, is Coenie running low on ammo that he has to send a photographer lackey to fight this battle? But it looks lyke Kyle Arroujo makes a good elitist lackey because his facebook cover photo says “Photographer Extraordinaire”. Boy, how old are you, like 24? It takes a little more experience and photoshop to call yourself great or extraordinary – unless it’s extraordinary lacking in talent and initiative. Someone should bring this amateur back to reality – just because you took some photos of a live event doesnt make you a stunning photographer kyle. I hope everyone in media (like me) who reads this article sees the horrible way you are trying to defend a corrupt bastard. Fyi, my company used you in a shoot last year and we will never again.
Melanie, thanks for writing this. Some of my good friends are attorneys and everyone knows of Coenie’s bullying tactics. Previous contestants tried pulling out of GSA and he also sent them legal threats. It’s such a shame that such a horrible person is damaging gay activism in SA.
I don’t see how I need to be a subject of discussion now on this article, I am merely asking for my photograph to be removed, Melanie has done this already… and thank you for doing so melanie… Discussions and issue is over now?.
If you wish to attack me, criticize me or my work, please do cos I actually do not CARE, and I’m pretty sure I did not photograph for your company last year… that is for sure… Unless you are the Editor in Chief of PlayBoy Magazine SA… which Im sure you’re not as that was my only active and exclusive contract.
Im 26, by the way… But thanks for the compliment! and lastly my final comment… I dont give a RATS A*! about the gay community in SA, I actually consider myself a homophobic homosexual… a homosexual whom dislikes sa homosexuals due to the fact that the gay community in SA behave like wild mongrels, animals!! (you are possibly just ”another” one) and are an embarrasment to ”general” community!.
The straight people love my work and I wont be a part of any gay media or articles anymore.
Those are my reasons and that is how it will be going forward,
Thanks
Kyle Araujo
Whaaa? A homophobic homosexual? Has Coenie been teaching you big words with more than 3 syllables? I’m sure you think SA gay people behave like mongrels, your ringleader is the prime example. Especially a mongrel that can’t ask Melanie nicely to take down the picture – it’s all “who the hell do you think you are?” I guess you’re “elitist” views blind you from your petty delusion, 26 yr old fancy photographer. If you don’t like SA please crawl back into whatever dark pit of ignorance your crawled out of in South America.
For somebody who has the nerve to stand up for a vile bastard and do a cheap publicity stunt on this forum, call SA gays mongrels and consider himself a homophobic homosexual you fit nicely in with your “elitist” crowd. Why do you hang out in gay bars and gay clubs, have lots of gay friends on facebook, if you claim you have an irrational hatred (i.e. homophobic) of gay people.
It’s a very very small world Kyle. Insult and turn your back on us all you want. We will do the same and ask our friends and family to do the same with you. Shortsighted simpleton…
PS to everyone else: Coenie is in regular contact with Kyle on his facebook. That’s where the “copyright” issue began. Coenie couldn’t do much about Melanie’s blog post so he made one last vain attempt to remove a picture of himself. Ag shame.
I was acutely aware of Coenie being behind it. Thanks for pointing that out. I believe Coenie is going to try all sorts of tricks. false and phoney alliances with people he once bit in the back. Some will fall for it, others wont. I just hope he starts to focus his attention on what needs to happen in South Africa and starts to leave his fellow gay activists alone. In fact if Coenie were smart he would stop sending letters like the one he sent to Rudi and start doing some damage control like forging alliances and making things right through non conflicting all inclusive advocacy. However a leopard never changes his spots. Let us see.
Kyle. if you’re such a homophobic gay man. then you’re definitely not as intelligent as you think you are, as matric english would’ve clarified a clear ambiguity and contradiction to your new terminology. by the sounds of things you should get your little temper tantric ass out of this country because neither the straights or the homos will put up with a screaming queen like yourself. Also please remember this blog is not here to highlight your personal grievances or for cheap publicity.you have your website names sake this is Melanies blog not yours.and the subject is clearly not you. SO BACK OFF and keep your agro self opiniated comments on your names sake website.
Hi Melanie. Do i have your permission to submit this article to a local television company in South Africa ?
We feel your and Rudi Story deserves more attention .
He is clearly traumatised by this individual.
YES of course . Also you might want to ask them to investigate the “RAINBOW BOYS” – a secret Facebook group that he was involved in” That is what Coenie and his clan is most scared of. I have received information about this and welcome more communications from those of you who want to talk and remaining anonymous is perfectly fine. I will NOT expose anyone involved. So please have no fear.
Please look my comments on my Facebook timeline -> http://www.facebook.com/perbuchlarsen
I am so tired of Coenie and the way he abuses what power he might have or he believes to have.
I am not popular if you ask Coenie but be has never proved to me why. He just got mad at me.
You can read my comments on Facebook without being my friend there – I wrote them in a public post.
Well Coenie tried to shut down my Facebook account. Do not be surprised if it happens to you too. So you may want to [ost your story here too. Thank you. Its interesting that instead of speaking about his own actions and trying to defend himself he spends more time now trying to find forums to attack my credibility. I did not send the threatening letters to people’s work – once twice three times….
I copied PER BUCH LARSEN’S FB comments here in case you get blocked again – Per Buch Larsen shared a link.
3 hours ago near Avedøre, Copenhagen
I am really harmed by this but not really surprised. I do not want to call Coenie Kukkuk any ugly names – but now I will not keep silent anymore but tell my bad experience with Coenie.
Before Mr. Gay World (MGW) took place in South Africa (SA) I had a reasonable but formal relationship with Coenie. It was at that time I had planned to go to SA to attend the MGW events.
Due to some reason that Coenie has never proven to me, he got mad at me. Then he abused the MGW organization and used his position to block my access to all the MGW relevant fora in Facebook.
Fortunately – due to my good contacts – I got help from inside the MGW organization and Conie’s actions were overruled.
Of course I have been blocked from Coenie’s Facebook account but as I have not blocked him, then I assume that he might by accident read my comments here.
On the other hand, I am not afraid, Coenie!
I feel sorry for him. He sounds like a very lonely man. Sad. Deprived of REAL friends. That is why he has so much time to try and destroy other LGBTI members that are nol linked (financially) to his companies.
Sho sho sho. A HECTIC story here and some hectic comments.
The photo that was originally used was more than likely Kyle’s he was the official photographer for the event after all.
But yeah glad you’re bringing public attention to this. So disconnected from it though because I’m really not part of the scene. I dig clubbing and all but I literally do it for the fun, I get disgusted by these clicks that think they’re the shit. It’s so pathetically highscool.
Amazing how people can use lawyer sprawl to so effectively control freedom of speech.
Amazing how a man’s ego causes him to keep exposing himself the to very attention that he claims hurts him, much like a flasher does. His ego may destroy him all by itself.
As is said, “Growing older is mandatory, but growing up is a matter of choice!” It is sad when an aging man remains a teenager in development. Being a teenager is only makes sense when one is a teenager. To stay there is pathetic
I see the GBLTI party and Mr Gay SA have announced a peace. Time to bury the hatchet and move on.
I did not know they were at war! I like peace….. no matter who its always a good thing. In fact I have not covered any stories on the “GBLTI Party” on my site. I have met some of the members on Facebook but have not done any stories on it. I have not seen any women involved on FB. I wonder if there are any? I wonder why the have the “G” first in the acronym – as the global and US acronym is LGBT or LGBTI. The US activists have yet to include the “I” – too.
It is my impression that many posts in this thread are moving quite far away from the main topic. Let us discuss the issue that Coenie Kukkuk is threatening people. Is that needed and is it a proper reaction and behaviour of a man that I expect should be an adult?
By the way, I have a strange feeling that Coenie is mingling here covering himself.
Actually Coenie has come on my site a good many times. He keeps an eye on the comments. He then communicates with others and they come back on and write comments too. He also uses psuedonyms. I have seen his comments on my other posts about MR GAY SA a lot. So yes you are right about that. I always know when it is him. I always know when that happens. I am able to moderate my comments. I usually let them all through, even the negative ones. I could easily axe them, but I am not afraid of the negative ones because it usually gives people an interesting perspective of what goes on and the negative ones usually dont make the writers look very good, especially to peole who know who I am. In fact the negative one;s usually help to illustrate the points i make. I only keep swearing and threats off – those I axe. There are very few of those. So all is good.
The Gay party’s Gauteng rep is a woman – or transexual not sure. Any case, by the looks of these comments compared to other articles way too much publicity is given to mr Gay SA methinks. I do believe that no publicity is bad publicity – it is all over Facebook in RSA and a lot of people are talking about it that would not have before – some of my friends are and some are pro and some are anti … I do agree that there are bigger things to fry than tangle with this.
PS the press release is on the Coalition FB group
Yes but it often exposure and conflict is important. In this case CK had done a lot of silencing in the background, putting down new organizations that were forming , using threats,. That needed to be exposed. If it got GA SAY talking GOOD! But people seem to like scandal and will talk more aboput that than the awful violence in SA> I write a LOT on this BLOG about the violence and the politics behind it – it is an activism BLOG – so if this also happened to serve to bring more people to read the other stuff – GREAT…. maybe more SA gay people will become vocal. I honestly had no idea that this would get as much attention as it did. It blew me away. I am glad it did – because awareness all around is important. Thanks for reading and commenting.
I am embarrassed to call myself a gay man as by the actions of a few, we are judged as a “community”. What I’ve long realised is that there is no “family” in “we are family”. There is no such thing as the “gay social elite” – it’s simply a bunch of gay people with a big chip on their shoulder. I am truly disgusted. “We are family” – what a lot of rubbish.
I think its time SA has a revolution….a pink revolution. Not one to overthrow the government, but one to overthrow the scheming,self indulgent so called elitist of the so called gay community in SA. Rainbow nation my a$$. makes me ashamed to call myself a proudly gay south african. Melanie, since coming across your blog…you are my newest hero!!!!!!!
Angelicious I thank you for that. I have been used as the Coenie Defense – so his gang have attacked me on all fronts to try and discredit ME – instead of defending him on the merits of these assertions. But indeed it has brought out many more stories…. Mostly I have received vallidating support. I knew this was arisk and I would be under fire by a core few – but it has been worth every minute of it. I am not afraid of the threats or attacks I have received and stand behind everything I have written. So your support means a great deal to me THANK YOU!
Aubrey is fro the GBLTI according to the website if it is the same one? It seems they did indeed then agree.
Hi Melanie.
Trust you’re well.
I wish to commend you on you work for the LGBTI community.
I also wish to inform you that we encourage and infact insist involvement with the Lesbians too.
We also encourage ALL colours onto our team.
We just want Peace and an end to the HATE.
Lets all be at paeace with one another and address the seriousness of hate crimes in South Africa. holding hands with you we will make South Africa a place to be proud of .
Thank you for your support. :-) xxx Peace and Love.xxx
WHO IS “WE”?
feel free to add me on facebook. http://www.facebook.com/aubreyleroux
My Facebook page has 5,350 friends and I cannot add more people. I had under 5000 friends and then a Facebook Glitch caused old deactivated accounts come back. So it went over. I would have to delete over 300 friends which would take too much time…. when I tied I could not even delete the deactivated friends, What a mess. So I started a MELANIE NATHAN ADVOCACY PAGE and the only way I can add you is if YOU hit “LIKE” at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Melanie-Nathan-Advocacy/253495108038074 here it is too – https://www.facebook.com/pages/Melanie-Nathan-Advocacy/253495108038074
You sent a long comment 1,353 words – I think longer than my article itself about your life which I cannot post here as a comment because its unrelated to this article. I tried to send you an e-mail but it bounced back as being an invalid email address. I explained my policy in the e-mail. Your comment was more like a personal blog post. I am sympathetic to your past about your family and your life – but it was Not really appropriate for here. if you end me a correct email i would be happy to resend my response to you – thanks for understanding, ..
To every single person that commented & voiced their support on this article on Melanie’s blog…………… I THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!
However the sad reality is that I have officialy withdrawn myself from the GLBTI Party for which I fought and that initially stood up and supported me in the fight against the injustices of not only one individual or organisation but the promotion of LGBTI rights in SA. The subsequent truth is that the GLBTI party has established a “truce” and found common grounds with Mr Kukkuk and Mr Gay SA without consulting its members, let alone its volunteers. Thus my decision to withdraw my support for this party and any other person’s or alliances it may have. I believe in honesty, integrity, democracy, truth, transparency and justice which this issue and “party” dealings lagged all thereof.
Thank you Melanie for having brought attention to the issue at hand.
Let this serve as encouragement for all persons world wide to not be afraid of standing up and making their voices heard.
Thank you for expressing your thoughts Rudi. I am sorry you had to go through this nightmare at the han ds of Kukkuk. There is no excuse for him sending such a letter knowing your bosses would see it and referencing you being on FB during what he presumed were your work hours shows his ill intent. How does he know what your work hours are?
– When I posted the Story I had no idea that it involved the GLBT party in any way – so when someone mentioned a truce between Kukkuk and GLBT Party – well it made no sense – I am still not sure how the so called “truce” relates to Kukkuk sending you a letter in your personal capacity to your work. I have not had much knowledge about the GLBT Party. In fact I have yet to even look at their website. So did not even know there was a war between them and Kukkuk and/or MR GSA. Quite frankly I have no interest that at all.
You will notice that the GLBT party is not referenced in the article or the threat letter at all. So to my way of thinking these are separate issues.
Wishing you the best. Please feel free to keep us posted.