by Percy Ngubane
Every morning many citizens wake up and immediately their curiosity of what the day has in store is answered in the comfort of their homes. This is done through the flicking of a cellphone, pressing of the remote control or tuning into a breakfast show. The media is a constant and ever present companion in people’s lives. Though it may take different form, through print, broadcast or social media, it digs and delivers news.
The media also boasts being the watch dog and pillar of society. This comes with the daunting task of not recoiling in the midst of adversity and resistance, but navigating through obscure and convoluted terrains, and narrating the story without fear or favor. Structure becomes essential in being able to keep focus and in gathering news worthy stories. What enforce structure are the following framework; prominence, celebrity, natural disasters, and criminal activity. This comes with the onus of being truthful and fair.
An individual who suffered brute hard line reporting that bruised her reputation, was former Minister of Health Dr Manto Tshabala-Msimang, duped the beetroot minister. In 2007 Sunday Times published an article titled “Manto’s Hospital Booze Binge”, wherein the publication exposed how the minister had a liver transplant, owing to hers being tattered due to excessive drinking. What was alarming about the article was that the minister did not restrain herself from delighting in a spree of white wine, before her operation. Sunday Times further indicated that even after her operation she immediately continued throttling more alcohol. The minister took the paper to court as; she learnt that they had within their possession, her personal and private file of her stay at Cape Town Medi Clinic. Fueling this was the fact that the hospital also admitted that her file was missing from their records.
Before the court the minister argued, that the publication and its owners had severely infringed her right to privacy and dignity. Sunday Times fielded private defense as their defense. Though the papers prevailed against the charges, the judge did note that “the harm caused to the first applicant, and her family as well as those close to her must have been vast and painful”. This is an aspect that the media negates or overrides either because of commercial reasons or wanting to dominate the media space by “breaking” the news first. Mannier times the consequence that arises from publishing the intimate details of a person’s life, is left on the laps of the family. This is a sentiment that was expressed by the daughter of the state president, in her writing to Ferial Haffejee, after City Press plucked Brent Murray’s “Spear” portrait on their website page. That is why in Manto vs. Mondli Makhanya & Sunday Times case, the judge accentuated that “newspapers, no less than other players in society must keep in mind the consequences of their activities.”
Given this submission, one wonders whether the media has any recognition or reverence for this basic human right. Makaziwe Mandela, the eldest daughter of Former President Nelson, in an exclusive interview with CNN bemoaned the media’s infestation of her father’s current state. She went as far as saying that “Give us the space to be with our father”. It would seem illogical to the media agencies not to alert or inform the world of Madiba’s condition, after all the media was instrumental in raising awareness about his imprisonment by the apartheid regime. But when the journalists hover at his private residence and camp at the hospital where he is being treated, does that not intrude on his privacy? When reporters seek for detailed information about his medical state, does that display appreciation of this exclusive right? It seems not enough that his family and the presidency have indicated that he is fighting a lung infection, and are asking for some “space” in this precious and critical time of his life. Mail & Guardian Editor in Chief, Nick Dauws in an interview on Safm pointed out that the former president “is a person of interest”, and as such they have to acquire accurate information as they do their best to inform the country on the developments regarding his health.
Savita Mbuli is another individual who has been pelted with question in the midst of her mourning for her husband, Vuyo Mbuli. Questions that have been put to her by City Press and Sunday World, have nothing to do with celebrating the historical role that Vuyo Mbuli played in the national broadcast in carving a new image and lingo for democratic South Africa. Instead it was a probing about the infidelity of her husband. What bearing that has on ordinary citizens baffles the mind. But the insensitivity and curiosity that guided the reporter(s) further perpetuates how the media erodes and disregards this immensely fragile and essential right. Kea Magano Editor in Chief for Irawa Post maintains that “each reporter has to have ethics that they live by” and it is “very easy to lose them”.
As much as the media is crucial and important in keeping the public abreast, if it does not adhere to reputable standards and ethical reporting that is laced with objectivity, truthfulness and integrity, than political maneuvering will dilute its conviction and distill its focus. A sign of this is the Secrecy Bill.
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