Mvusi Sicwetsha vs. Daily Dispatch

Dear Bongani

I have studied all the relevant material and have come to the conclusion that we can do this the long or the short way.

(Mvusi Sicwetsha)

I agree with Mvusi – the text was his opinion, and the omission of such an important word as “legitimate” (given the particular context), as well as the addition to his text, indeed may have distracted from what he wanted to say.

As always, I have taken your arguments seriously – but the fact of the matter is that a publication should not add or distract from a person’s text on the basis that it disagrees with that author (as has happened in this case). It is a different matter, of course, if text is edited (shortened) while the message remains the same.

Also, the decision lies with the newspaper to publish or not. You had all the right in the world not to publish Mvusi’s text. But once you have decided to do so, the meaning should not be altered nor should the edited version create such a possibility.

He is not asking for an apology, but merely for some clarification – which, I submit, is only fair.

You are free to disagree with me (and indeed to proffer some more arguments to motivate the newspaper’s case), in which case I shall have to come to a formal finding.

Kind regards

Johan