Rulings

Finding Complaint 8842 Date of article: 28/2/21 (print and online) Headline:  “Kung-flu Panda: Dodgy analytics or pandemic propaganda?” Authors: Nafeez Ahmed and Rebecca Davis Note on this Finding With regards to points 2.5, 2.54 and 3.40: the Finding makes reference to a podcast with respect to the views of journalist Ms Rebecca Davis on lockdowns and the c

Particulars  Number of complaints:  8535 and 8545 Headlines and dates of articles: Details of Euphonik and Fresch ‘rape’ emerge (24 January 20201, print; 25 January 2021, online); and Rape accuser apologises to Euphonik – ‘I am sorry for what I did to you and DJ Fresh, I’m scared’ (28 February 2021, print; 1 March, onlin

Particulars  Complaint number:  8467 Complainant:  Mr Imtiaz Fazel in his capacity as acting Director-General, Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) Complaint lodged by: The Office of the State Attorney – Pretoria Headlines of articles and dates: De Lille unfazed by acting-DG’s baggage (8 October 2020); and Toxic pow

Particulars  Complaint number: 8829 Date of article: 21 February 2021 Headline: Rugby is saaier as TV sonder tieties (Rugby is more boring than TV without tits) Author of article: Louis de Villiers Respondent: Alet Wichmann, internal ombud (Rapport) Complaint                            &

The article was written by Mr Jacques Pauw, with the headline “Confidential NPA report exposes senior officials who lied about Johan Booysen yet they are still employed”. There was a sub-head “Top prosecutions at the National Prosecuting Authority lied and concocted false evidence in a desperate attempt to nail former top Hawk Johan Booysen and the so-called Cato Manor death squa

The complaint followed an article published by the respondent in its edition of 29 September 2020. The article was headlined “Woman set to be charged for ‘extorting’ Masondo”. The story spoke about a sexual encounter which the applicant had had with Mr Masondo, a Deputy Minister, which resulted in a pregnancy that the applicant allegedly terminated.  More crucially, it

The complaint was about an article published by the respondent on 5 February 2021 with the headline “Jesus Thesis and Other Critical Fabulations”: The sins Lot’s daughters saved from the ash”. The article was a publication of Akhona Mjawara’s review of one Kopano Maroga’s book “Jesus and Other Critical Fabulations”. The review was written in some lan

Particulars  Complaint number: 8884 Date of article: 26 March 2021 Headline: Ex-OR Tambo accountant gets 15 years for fraud Respondent: Adrienne Carlisle, Internal Ombud Complaint                                             1.1 Mr Lumko Mtim

Complaint number for Sowetan Live is still to be allocated. Dates of articles: Between 26 October 2020 and 1 November 2020 Nature of this adjudication 1.1 The Public Advocate has declined to accept Mr. Matome Letsoalo’s complaints, arguing that there was no prima facie breach of the Press Code. (Details below.) 1.2 As the acting Press Ombud, I need to decide whether his

The Ruling dismissed the applicant’s complaint against City Press (“respondent”). The complaint was about an article published by the respondent on 30 August 2020, with the headline “SENZO MEYIWA MURDER – HITMAN SAYS IT WAS KELLY”. The article said that some people were arrested for the murder of the late national team goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa. It also said