Media ethics are once again in the spotlight after popular television presenter Siphiwe Mtshali announced his intention to sue the Sunday World newspaper for defamation after it published photographs of a couple having sex in a car outside a nightclub and it claimed it was Mtshali.
The photos show a naked dreadlocked man on top of a naked woman in the front seat of a car. The pair looked like they had been on a drinking spree. Both appeared to be in a drunken stupor and beer bottles were scattered around the car. The newspaper identified the man in the photographs as Mtshali.
At a press conference at the Park Hyatt hotel in Johannesburg on Tuesday, Mtshali said he had never been to the nightclub and did not know either of the people in the photographs. ”The person in the photographs is not me” said Mtshali.
The paper had published the photographs in a front page story, in which he was quoted as admitting to being the man in the pictures and asking for forgiveness from the public. Mtshali claims the story was a total fabrication.
”I did not have discussions with the journalist about this story at all, either over the telephone, by e-mail or in any manner. What makes it worse is that there are a number of quotes which are attributable to me and I want to assure everyone that it is not me, the story is false and has caused huge damage to my good name and reputation” said Mtshali.
He presents the youth progamme Jam Alley on Fridays and acts in the drama series Tsha Tsha, which advocates HIV/Aids awareness.
”From my days as a presenter on Yo-Tv and now on Jam Alley, I have considered myself and believe that I am a role model for the youth and appreciate my role in the public eye” he said.
He says he has campaigned and actively made people aware of issues relating to HIV/Aids. ”This is one of the primary reasons that my role in Tsha Tsha is so important”
A letter of demand for an apology and retraction was issued to the newspaper on Monday and it is rumoured that Mtshali’s legal team is demanding R175 000 from the paper. His attorney Mark Rosin and his agency, Jay Bee Casting refused to confirm or comment on this.
”The article is, needless to say, defamatory and injurious. The male depicted in the photographs is not Mtshali. He also does not know the woman on the front page of the paper” said Rosin. He confirmed that they have given the newspaper a week to respond to the letter of demand, failing which they will institute a defamation law suit.
Sunday World reporter, Mduduzi Dlamini, told the Mail & Guardian Online that he could not speak about the case.
”I really wish I could say something to share my side of the story but I was also advised not to talk to the media regarding the case. There is a legal case that will be taking place. We don’t want to say anything at this point” he said.
The paper’s acting editor Sandile Memela, said they were in the process of formulating a statement. ”We still need to discuss it with management and we’ll issue a statement tomorrow first thing in the morning” he said.
The Sunday World story also claimed that Mtshali had threatened to commit suicide after the pictures were e-mailed to media houses, and that he was recently involved in an orgy with two other men and a woman.