Stuart Hess
A student at Peninsula Technikon, Max Hamata, has received death threats for writing a story on campus prostitution for the Mail & Guardian. Technikon management has also placed pressure on him to reveal his sources.
After the article, “Sex for sale on campus”, appeared on September 18, Hamata was harassed and verbally abused by other students. He was called to the office of the deputy vice-chancellor, Vuyisa Tanga, who ordered him to reveal his sources. He was accused of being disloyal to the institution. Sources quoted in the article have been intimidated and threatened with expulsion.
This week, management held an informal fact-finding mission to investigate Hamata’s coverage of the story. During the inquiry, chaired by the registrar of student affairs, Tobie Titus, and judicial officer Cindy Ngaba, Hamata was questioned about his sources and accused of misquoting them. Titus, who serves as an executive member of the South African Rugby Football Union, was reluctant to comment, saying the issue was “an internal thing”.
Hamata says the inquiry is having an adverse affect on him as he prepares for examinations. “I do not know where I stand,” says Hamata. “I thought I was working in a free environment where people are free to express themselves.”
The head of journalism at the technikon, Eronini Megwa, says the department has not received any official word from the administration. He feels that if the institution believes Hamata has infringed any regulations, appropriate action should be taken. “We teach our students to uphold the values which they respect as part of the profession,” says Megwa.
Hamata approached the Student Representative Council for assistance, but they have yet to take a position on the issue.
The Freedom of Expression Institute has voiced its concern over the technikon’s treatment of Hamata. “What kind of message does this send out to other student journalists?” asked representative Jane Duncan. She says it is certainly in the public’s interest to know if prostitution is taking place on campuses.
However, the national information and publicity officer of the South African Students Press Union, Mark Weinberg, expressed concern about the article. “There is some concern that [Hamata] didn’t say which publication [the story] would be published in,” says Weinberg.