Media Statement from Phylicia Oppelt of Times Media
2 December 2015
When Pearlie Joubert's affidavit was first brought to Times Media's attention, its owners had the foresight to launch an internal investigation as her claims had serious implications. An independent, external party conducted a comprehensive examination of Joubert's accusations.
None, however malicious and obviously driven by a personal agenda, was found to have substance - specifically the claim that my former husband held sway in the reporting on SARS.
To give this any credence is to fundamentally undermine the reputation, integrity and professionalism of my former colleagues in the SundayTimes' investigations unit.
All they did was their jobs as award-winning investigative journalists - hunt for information, obtain documents that the powerful wish to hide and write stories that shed light on misdeeds.