It is common ground that the report and photograph reveal a dreadful tale of child abuse and poverty, lack of support for vulnerable victims of crime and of women bearing the brunt of societal anger on the transmission of HIV/Aids.

Some of Ms Fernand's concerns arise from the style of popular Sunday newspaper journalism, which is quite different from the style of care organisations concerned with the welfare of vulnerable people such as children. Style is of course within the editor's discretion and I do not believe it is my task to intervene and try to change Sunday journalism.

Nevertheless there is scope to examine the way this story was written and presented, the completeness or otherwise of the information contained in it and whether it complies with provisions of the press code regarding such things as sensitivity, privacy, taste and identification of victims of sexual violence.

There is no doubt that publication of the plight of the mother and daughters is in the public interest, and the Sunday Times cannot be faulted on the way it published a photograph of the girl concerned.

The Sunday Times has conceded that the story would have been strengthened if it had quoted a social worker or gender activist in the area who could have commented on the case and contextualised it within the wider problem of child abuse in South Africa.

I agree with that, but would go further. The tenor of the story is that the teenage victim is somehow to blame. She is described as promiscuous, sex-mad and unable to say no to men. Her activities are said to be the cause of death threats to her mother. There is no expression of outrage that her mother chains her and sjamboks her, nor is there any exploration of the possibility of getting help for both the mother and child.

This lack of sensitivity is astonishing. No doubt the story is accurate in its report of what people say about the victim; the difficulty arises from the biased presentation of those facts.

At this point it would serve no good purpose to require the Sunday Times to publish an adverse judgment, and the matter is closed with a reprimand and a recommendation to the editor to educate and sensitize his staff regarding stories on victims of violence and sexual abuse, especially children.

E H Linington
Ombudsman
10 September 2003