UPDATE : 23 Feb @ 14:00

heat’s legal representatives were informed today that Joost van der Westhuizen is no longer legally represented by his attorney of record appointed last week Monday. The most up to date information currently available is that he has not appointed another attorney to represent him and that all queries are referred to Mr Mike Bolhuis.

It has been a busy few days at heat Towers, as the drama around Joostgate exploded. Several members of the media – radio, print and television – viewed the video on Tuesday afternoon at 3pm at the offices of heat’s legal firm in Sandton, and others have requested extra individual screenings, which are being organised at present.

Joost himself had two opportunities to view the video, on Monday. We have given Team Van Der Westhuizen a copy of the tape as they requested and invited them to send an expert to analyse the original tape for authenticity, but they have not responded to the invitation yet. In fact at this point no formal legal action has been taken against heat or any other media.

This morning we extended another invitation to Team Van Der Westhuizen to supply us with the details of “the many distinguishing physical characteristics” that will allegedly prove that Joost is not the man in the video, as they had mentioned in media interviews. heat would like to include that in the next issue of the magazine which is going to print on Thursday, with an extended deadline arranged specifically to afford Joost this platform. heat will publish his response, supported by Joost’s own photographs if he so wishes, unchanged and unedited.

We know the video is awaited very eagerly by everyone visiting heat.co.za, but at present we are complying with legal advice that we hold back with loading it onto the site. If we get the green light we will post the video, so keep watching out for it.