In a statement released by his lawyer‚ Mamodupi Mulaudzi‚ on Wednesday‚ Jordaan said he had kept quiet on the matter because of his “empathy” with the victims of gender-based violence.

“Dr Jordaan has‚ however‚ after careful consideration decided to assert his innocence. Whilst Dr Jordaan supports public debate as an essential tool to highlight the issue of gender-based violence‚ however‚ in this case there are two opposing versions that cannot be resolved in the media‚ or elsewhere‚ in substitution for a court of law‚” the statement reads.

Jordaan said the mediation process Ferguson offered to him runs the risk that the public will perceive that there is a cover-up away from the “glare of public scrutiny…”.

His lawyers said they have advised Jordaan to not speak publicly about the allegations.

“From a legal viewpoint‚ serious allegations of the kind made by Miss Ferguson can only be ventilated in a court of law‚ where the rights of all parties are protected‚” Mulauzi said.

Ferguson‚ who now lives in Sweden‚ claimed recently that Jordaan raped her more than 20 years ago. Since then other allegations of rape have made been made against Jordaan.