ANC YOUTH LEAGUE NOTES THE CITY PRESS' DELIBERATE DEFAMATION OF ANC YL PRESIDENT AND CALL FOR URGENT ACTION ON THOSE WHO ARE INVOLVED.
24 January 2011
The ANC Youth League notes the Press Ombudsman's report on the City Press' reports between February and September 2010, which linked ANC Youth League President Julius Malema to corruption and delivery of shoddy services in Limpopo Province. The City Press, particularly its lousy, obsessed Journalist Piet Rampedi continued to allege that President Julius Malema was involved in the building of collapsing bridges in Limpopo and linked him to corrupt activities, despite the clarification provided by the Public Protector and all the people involved.
The City Press further created a wrong impression that Limpopo government is corrupt and singled out by National government because of being corrupt.
In the complaint lodged by the Premier of Limpopo, and in response to the pictures published by the City Press claiming that ANC Youth League President constructed collapsing bridges the Press Ombudsman came to the following conclusion, "From the pictures available to this office it is clear that the one used on the front page was taken from such an angle that it gives the impression that the bridge was damaged - when in fact it was not the bridge, but indeed the side of the road that was affected. This is in breach of Art. 5.3 of the Press Code that states: "Pictures shall not misrepresent or mislead..." and on the claim that the bridges were washed away, the Press Ombudsman discovered that "It could not be established that "bridges" were washed away. This is inaccurate and misleading reporting and in breach of Art. 1.1 of the Press Code".
Overall, the Press Ombudsman came to the judgment that the City Press newspaper "is reprimanded for: