re: Mom chains up "sex mad" daughter

Firstly, I apologise for my tardiness in responding to your letter. Our letters editor was away for two weeks and in her absence all systems broke down. In the meantime, Mr Linnington, the press ombudsman, sent me a copy of your letter.

I would like to assure you that the Sunday Times regards child abuse and rape as extremely serious issues. Indeed it is because of this that we chose to highlight the horrific circumstances in which the 13-year-old rape victim is living.

As you point out, the story is one of child abuse and poverty, and the lack of support mechanisms for crime victims, and the HIV/Aids burden that women bear. I believe that all of these issues come through in the story. We chose to angle the story the way we did because we felt that the child being chained up for her behaviour (or the behaviour she was accused of) was particularly heart-breaking: Someone who needed help and counselling was instead being punished.

We did indeed not name the mother for the reason that the daughter cannot be identified. The photograph was not taken to imply shame of the part of the girl or in order to be sensationalist. We wanted to illustrate an aspect of her circumstances and were at pains to take a photograph that would not identify her. In this regard, I cannot agree that we have jeopardised any court case that the child may have to endure.

With regard to the labelling of the child, it is a fact that her mother, and various neighbours, regarded her as sex-mad. This perception led to her being chained up.

However, I would agree that the story would have been strengthened if we had quoted a social worker or gender activist in the area who could have commented on the child's treatment and circumstances, and who could have contextualised this case within the wider - and very serious - problem of child abuse in South Africa.

I don't believe that we have failed the girl by writing about her plight. Rather, I believe that we would have been failing in our duty if we hadn't. Perhaps we could have done the story differently, or better, but in essence I believe we made the correct decision.

I do intend to raise your concerns in general editorial meetings, with the bureau chiefs and with the reporter who wrote this article in particular.

As I'm sure you are aware through your own work, educating and sensitising people to the rights and circumstances of those in vulnerable positions is something that takes time. I have every expectation that your letter will contribute to a greater awareness of those issues among our staff and inform the stories we write.

Kind regards
Susan Smuts
Deputy Managing Editor, Sunday Times