THE press ombudsman has dismissed a complaint by model Joyce Omphemetse Molamu against the legitimacy of a story in Sowetan last month.

The story about her relationship with Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula was published on November 1, headlined "I never loved Fikile".

Molamu was quoted as saying: "I never loved Fikile Mbalula. He was just a shag."

Molamu, 27, lodged a complaint with the press ombudsman that the story "incorrectly states that she had said Mbalula was 'just a shag'" and that Sowetan "published three statements without any proof or evidence".

In his analysis, using Sowetan reporter Zenoyise Madikwa's notes, deputy press ombudsman Johan Retief said: "All I have to go on are the notes that Madikwa says she made during the phone conversation with Molamu. These notes look legitimate to me and include the words 'just a shag'. Also, it occurs to me that the words in dispute are likely to be uttered by someone who said she fell pregnant with a man she admittedly did not love."

She also said that the following were published without proof or evidence:

• "The 27-year-old Molamu's ex-boyfriend, who does not want his name mentioned, told Sowetan that he dated Molamu for more than 14 months";
• "This woman has had a lot of boyfriends. She was well taken care of. When we were dating, she used to come to my place with different top-of-the-range cars and stayed at posh places - but the most amazing thing was that she was not working"; and
• "The ex said he found out that she was dating cricketer Lonwabo Tsotsobe.

Molamu said the second issue defames her and insinuates she is a "whore".

"Sowetan maintains that all comments by its source were properly attributed and that it approached Molamu for comment - which she failed to make use of," Retief found.