Three former editors have distanced themselves from the submission by Independent Newspapers to the truth commission, reports Jacquie Golding-Duffy
EX-EDITORS of the former Argus Company, the new management at Independent Newspapers and journalists are involved in a heated debate regarding the Independent group’s submission to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC).
In an extraordinary move, three former Argus group editors have distanced themselves from the report and challenged its contents.
In a letter to The Sunday Independent they said they had nothing to apologise for. In response, Cape Times editor Moegsien Williams wrote a heart-rending open letter to John O’Malley, one of the three editors.
O’Malley was the editor of the Daily News (1968-1977) and Cape Argus (1977-1982). The others were former Daily News (1977-1992) and Sunday Tribune editor-in-chief (1989- 1992) Michael Greene; and Sunday Tribune editor (1974-1989) Ian Wyllie.
Williams notes “with joy and disappointment” the tack taken by the editors, but goes on to relay a personal view of exactly how it felt to be a black reporter in a white newsroom with a white editor. “A common feature we had to contend with as black journalists was we were not fully trusted with the facts”, says Williams, recounting how badly one of his eye-witness account stories was handled by O’Malley.
Williams expresses disappointment that the editors are rejecting the “humble apology” offered by the Independent group, and highlights many scenarios, including the fact that the truth seen through black eyes was often distorted to fit white perceptions and assuage the repressive government of the day.
O’Malley argues that an apology is unnecessary: “Independent Newspapers, a foreign company, went ahead and made a submission without consulting us as editors during the era in question. It was inappropriate for them to make a submission on our behalf, especially as we have nothing to apologise for,” he said.
Former editor-in-chief of The Star (1974- 1990) Harvey Tyson agrees. Interviewed on a non-attributable basis in the submission, Tyson says he chose not to associate himself with a company report as he has “absolutely nothing” to apologise for.
“If I am asked by the TRC to make a submission, I will be happy to do so but what on earth do I have to apologise for? We should be proud of what we achieved as the English press. We were the most consistent in our campaign against apartheid,” he said.
Green argues that it is common knowledge that human rights were violated, but says the rights of the newspaper and its managers were also violated with privacy being invaded via phone taps.
The last chair of the Argus Company (1990- 1994) before the Independent’s takeover, Doug Band, argues that the Independent group should have embarked on a more “thorough consultative” process before making the submission. However, Band says he is not opposed to a case being presented to the TRC.
Former Cape Times (1971-1987) editor Tony Heard says the submission was a welcome step in the ongoing probe into the role of newspapers in a terrible era.
Although not consulted, Heard argues that the English press had failings and was more like a “lightweight boxer” who managed a couple of blows but nothing heavyweight.
In contrast to most of the other editors, Heard more readily admits that there were failings, adding that there should be a “greater readiness by former editors to recognise that they operated in a context of compliance.
“It is time for a bit of humility and an apology especially when we all operated in a climate that neglected black reporters and women staffers,” he said.
While some of the former reporters at the Argus group accept that the actions of white editors may have been well- intentioned, some feel that more could have been done to not only advance black editorial staff but in terms of support from management for the truth to be told.
Rafiq Rohan, formerly a political reporter in the Argus group, disagrees with the contents of the letter published in the Independent.
He argues that at a time when he needed the support of the Argus group, following his release from Robben Island, where he had been sentenced to for 15 years for terrorism, “my company put me back on trial as they decided on my future within the group”.