Martin Welz
Encyclopedia
Martin Welz is a South Africa
n journalist and the editor of Noseweek
magazine. He is best known for his investigative work on controversial issues including government and corporate corruption.
He is one of five brothers: Thomas, Hannes, Jerome, Stephan and Martin.
Stephan, an expert on antiques, took over Sotheby’s Southern African operation which trades as Stephan Welz Sotheby's.
in the 1970s, a report by Welz saw a R180-million defamation claim instituted against the paper. He subsequently exposed Adrian Niewoudt's Kubus
milk culture pyramid scheme, later exposed as the biggest postal fraud in American history. He was later appointed as a consultant to the US Justice Department and helped expose Frans Theron as the Kubus mastermind in the US. He also worked on South Africa's Info scandal
, and helped exposed wrongdoing by apartheid-era cabinet ministers.
The first lawsuit again the magazine was brought in 1994 by an American millionaire dentist living in Stellenbosch, Western Cape, called Dr Robert Milton Hall. The trial was in 1996 in the Cape High Court before Judge Johann Conradie. Noseweek had, inter alia, pointed out Dr Hall's foreign exchange contraventions and the fact that when the South African authorities found out about this, they allowed him to merely pay tax on his illegal income. Welz has written about this aspect, saying, "But now the doctor may find himself sharing the unique tax status traditionally given to professional prostitutes who are required to pay tax on their illegal earnings.”
The magazine was represented by an attorney and advocates and Welz represented himself. Noseweek and Welz won the case. Judge Johann Conradie presided and in his judgment found that Dr Hall, "... sued not to salvage his reputation but to sustain a colossal fraud." This litigation put the magazine on ice for approximately two years and nearly bankrupted it.
In 2007 Welz represented himself in a court action brought by the FirstRand group to prevent Noseweek from publishing a list of FirstRand clients allegedly involved in a dubious offshore investment scheme. The action was dismissed with costs.
In 2008 Welz broke the news that a ship due to dock in Durban
harbour carried a shipment of Chinese
weapons bound for Zimbabwe.
News of the $1.245 million, 77-ton shipment came via what Welz described as a "a whistle blower of conscience," who supplied Noseweek with a commercial invoice, bill of lading and packing list for the shipment.
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n journalist and the editor of Noseweek
Noseweek
Noseweek is a South African investigative magazine published by Chaucer Publications that has appeared monthly since June 1993. It is best known for regular legal action against it, such as a failed bid at interdiction by banking group FirstRand and defamation actions by judge Fikile Bam and...
magazine. He is best known for his investigative work on controversial issues including government and corporate corruption.
Early life
Born 19 October 1945, Worcester, Western Cape, South Africa, Martin Sylvester Welz, son of the late Johann Max Friedrich (aka Jean) Welz (1900–1975), a renowned artist and architect from Vienna, Austria, and, Inger (1908–2001), a Danish journalist.He is one of five brothers: Thomas, Hannes, Jerome, Stephan and Martin.
Stephan, an expert on antiques, took over Sotheby’s Southern African operation which trades as Stephan Welz Sotheby's.
Sunday Times
While working for the Sunday TimesThe Sunday Times (South Africa)
The Sunday Times is a popular South African Sunday newspaper. It has an audited circulation of 504,000 and a weekly readership of 3.2 million, making it the largest weekly newspaper in South Africa. Recently it was involved in exposing a corruption scandal involving the South African government's...
in the 1970s, a report by Welz saw a R180-million defamation claim instituted against the paper. He subsequently exposed Adrian Niewoudt's Kubus
Kubus
The term Kubu is a Malay exonym ascribed to mobile, animist peoples who live throughout the lowland forests of Southeast Sumatra. In the Malay language, the word Kubu can mean defensive fortification, entrenchment, or a place of refuge...
milk culture pyramid scheme, later exposed as the biggest postal fraud in American history. He was later appointed as a consultant to the US Justice Department and helped expose Frans Theron as the Kubus mastermind in the US. He also worked on South Africa's Info scandal
Muldergate Scandal
The Muldergate scandal, also known as the Information Scandal, was a South African political scandal involving the Department of Information.South African Prime Minister BJ Vorster, Dr. Connie Mulder and Dr...
, and helped exposed wrongdoing by apartheid-era cabinet ministers.
Noseweek
Noseweek was founded in Cape Town, South Africa, in June 1993. It contains a minimal amount of advertising and has survived and grown mainly on its sales.The first lawsuit again the magazine was brought in 1994 by an American millionaire dentist living in Stellenbosch, Western Cape, called Dr Robert Milton Hall. The trial was in 1996 in the Cape High Court before Judge Johann Conradie. Noseweek had, inter alia, pointed out Dr Hall's foreign exchange contraventions and the fact that when the South African authorities found out about this, they allowed him to merely pay tax on his illegal income. Welz has written about this aspect, saying, "But now the doctor may find himself sharing the unique tax status traditionally given to professional prostitutes who are required to pay tax on their illegal earnings.”
The magazine was represented by an attorney and advocates and Welz represented himself. Noseweek and Welz won the case. Judge Johann Conradie presided and in his judgment found that Dr Hall, "... sued not to salvage his reputation but to sustain a colossal fraud." This litigation put the magazine on ice for approximately two years and nearly bankrupted it.
In 2007 Welz represented himself in a court action brought by the FirstRand group to prevent Noseweek from publishing a list of FirstRand clients allegedly involved in a dubious offshore investment scheme. The action was dismissed with costs.
In 2008 Welz broke the news that a ship due to dock in Durban
Durban
Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
harbour carried a shipment of Chinese
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
weapons bound for Zimbabwe.
News of the $1.245 million, 77-ton shipment came via what Welz described as a "a whistle blower of conscience," who supplied Noseweek with a commercial invoice, bill of lading and packing list for the shipment.
Awards
- South African Union of Journalists Thomas Pringle AwardThomas Pringle AwardThe Thomas Pringle Award is an annual award for work published in newspapers, periodicals and journals. They are awarded on a rotation basis for: a book, play, film or TV review; a literary article or substantial book review; an article on English education; a short story or one-act play; one or...
for Press Freedom.
- Special mention, 2002 Nat NakasaNat NakasaNathaniel Ndazana Nakasa better known as Nat Nakasa was a South African short story writer and journalist.He was born in Durban but moved to Johannesburg to work as a journalist for Drum magazine...
Award for Media Integrity & Courageous Journalism.
- Joint business category winner, 2004 Mondi Paper Magazine Awards.
- Honorary award for promoting corporate governance through investigative journalism, 2007 Sanlam Financial Journalist of the Year competition.