Do you remember the Tembisa Ten? This past June a remarkable story was published in the Pretoria News about a woman who was due to give birth to what would have been a world record, ten babies, all at once.
The story was covered extensively and published by Pretoria News editor Piet Rampedi, known to be somewhat of a fake-news peddler. It subsequently emerged that there were no ten babies but not before Rampedi doubled down on the story a couple of times and the Pretoria News even ran a front-page article asking for donations for Gosiame Sithole, the mother of the decuplets.
This leads us to the latest chapter of the saga, Independent Media hosted a two- and half-hour press conference yesterday to announce the findings of an investigation into story wherein it alleges that while Rampedi did make journalistic mistakes, the babies were actually stolen from Sithole in a vast human trafficking scheme, which is orchestrated with the help of the Gauteng health department and (we’re not making this up) a Nigerian doctor.
Independent Media chairperson, Dr Iqbal Survé led the briefing himself wherein he announced the damning allegations and of Rampedi’s editorial conduct he simply had this to say, “With regards to Mr Rampedi — it was a feel-good story. Cut him some slack.”
For what is journalism without truth, but sure we’ll cut him some slack.
Here’s what else you need to know today:
Business and Finance
Growthpoint sounds alarm about SA’s ‘excessive’ municipal rate hikes | Rob Rose – Financial Mail (Subscribe to read)
New broom has to deal with old troubles at Absa | Editorial – Business Day
Eskom
Eskom: ANC’s achilles heel | Natasha Marrian – Financial Mail (Subscribe to read)
Eskom, broken by corruption, theft, mismanagement, is ANC’s flagship capture project | Pieter du Toit – News24 (Subscribe to read)
Municipal Elections
Don’t ignore small parties, they are the kingmakers | Eric Naki – The Citizen (Subscribe to read)
Local government elections: Why it’s rational to vote with your heart | Simon Abbot – Mail & Guardian
The ANC’s choice for South Africa: Federation or dissolution | Martin van Staden – Daily Friend
Race Relations
Cricket and racism: how (not) to respond | Eusebius McKaiser – Sunday Times Daily (Register to read)
CSA has made Quinton a scapegoat for its Kock-ups | Jonathan Jansen – Sunday Times Daily (Register to read)
Climate Change
Long-term financial resources required for Africa’s journey to net zero | Barbara Creecy – Business Day
Electricity: SA on track, but a more ambitious plan is needed | Jason van der Poel – Sunday Times Daily (Register to read)
