Somizi was wrong to publish a journalist’s contact information and ask followers to invade her privacy

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 By: Surprise Golela


Somizi Mhlongo-Motaung: Instagram 

Section 14 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa 1997, states that everyone has the right to privacy. This right includes also those who are journalists.

In the past week media personality, Somizi Mhlongo-Motaung was contacted by a journalist from the City Press newspaper who wanted a comment from Somizi about what is happening in his love-life. Instead of responding to the questions being asked Somizi let rip on the reporter, he went as far as publishing the screenshot of the conversation showing the contacting details of the reporter on his Instagram account. He incited his over 1 Million followers to attack the journalist. Somizi even threatened to sue the journalist and their publication.

I think Somizi was wrong to post the cellphone numbers of the journalist on his account. This is an invasion of privacy. It is people like Somizi who make it difficult for us as journalists to do our work.

Journalists in this country are subjected to following the MEDIA CODE OF ETHICS AND CONDUCT which regulates the way news are obtained and reported. The code of ethics and conducts states that the media should take care to report news truthfully, accurately and fairly. The code of ethics says the media should seek, if practicable, the views of the subject of critical reportage in advance of publication, except when they might be prevented from reporting, or evidence destroyed, or sources intimidated. Such a subject should be afforded a reasonable time to respond; if unable to obtain comment, this shall be stated.

All these things mentioned is all that the journalist did, she went to Somizi who is a subject concerned in this matter to ask for a reply before they can publish anything. They did this so that they give Somizi a right to reply, and Somizi also had a right to not say anything or just say "No comment" to show that he was not interested. The way he dealt with the matter was very wrong.

Although Somizi claims he was just getting revenge, which we do not know what it is for, he was very wrong and he needs to be disciplined for his actions. He should be set as an example to other public figures.

The whole world still battles with the harassment of journalist.

Somizi and Mohale on their traditional wedding.

Somizi as a public figure he knows better than this. He even should his wedding rights to a media house allowing millions of people into his space. It is not a secret that every time something is happening in his marriage those millions of people include the media which he allowed in his space will always be on his case.

Even though he can say that the journalist invaded his privacy by asking personal questions, the Code of Ethics does make provision that the media can invade a persons privacy if the matter they are reporting on is of public interest.

I believe his behaviour was violent and criminal too. The fact that he said he is not sorry about what he did makes the whole issue even more.

Somizi has been in the public spotlight almost his whole life and we expect that by now he knows how to deal with the media.

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Location: Pretoria, South Africa

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