Beeld newspaper editor Peet Kruger and freelance columnist Jeanne Goosen were ordered on Wednesday to appear before a Pretoria judge to explain why a column on the ”advocate Barbie” sex-crime trial contained wrong information.
Judge Essop Patel ruled that the column appeared at first glance to be in contempt of court.
He ordered the pair to appear before him on Thursday morning to explain ”the basis of the comments”.
He also ordered the prosecution authorities and the police to investigate an charge of contempt of court against Goosen and the newspaper.
The judge reiterated the important role the media have to play in a democratic society. But journalists should do their work accurately and with discretion.
He pointed out that the accused before court — Cezanne Visser and Dirk Prinsloo — have the right to have their integrity protected, and said it will be ill advised to attach labels to them.
This includes comparisons of Visser to the blonde, busty plastic doll and to Saartje Baartman, a Khoi woman abused at 19th-century curiosity shows in Europe.
”This is offensive, not only to Ms Visser … but also to the memory of Saartje Baartman,” the judge said.
In a column published on Tuesday, Goosen compared the media attention being paid to Visser to the life of Baartman.
In her column, she made incorrect references to Visser being handcuffed in court, and to ”pornographic videos” being shown in the courtroom daily despite pleas from the defence.
Visser became known as ”advocate Barbie” after her participation in a pop-music talent contest and for posing for provocative pictures for several publications.
In the morning, her advocate, Gerhard Botha, said his client did not appreciate being likened to the doll or to Baartman and reserves her rights to institute several proceedings against the media at the conclusion of her trial. — Sapa