The South African National Editors’ Forum (Sanef) on Monday issued a statement on the reporting by the Sunday Times newspaper of allegations against Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang.
The newspaper reported that the health minister had been banned from Botswana after she allegedly stole items from a hospital where she was superintendent and was convicted of theft. The report also claimed that she had alcoholic liver disease before she had her liver transplant this year.
Sanef said it believes that the newspaper would have, prior to publication, taken sufficient steps to ensure that the information was true and in the public interest.
”Sanef supports the right of any editor to publish information that he/she believes to be truthful and to be in the public interest,” it said.
It is opposed to the wilful, malicious and vindictive violation of the privacy of individuals — especially when it concerns children and family — and respects an individual’s right to privacy, except where it conflicts clearly with public interest.
”The revelations concerning the minister of health fall clearly in the domain of public interest,” Sanef said. ”However, in this particular instance, there are legal processes under way and calls being made for a more structured investigation by government into the veracity of the allegations. Sanef hopes that minister will take the challenge to prove the reports right or wrong.”
Sanef added that it also respects the right of Tshabalala-Msimang, in this instance, to take up any concerns with the editor of the publication concerned. ”If she is not happy with the outcome, she could approach the Office of the Press Ombudsman.”
‘Outrage’
The African National Congress’s national working committee (NWC) on Monday expressed ”deep concern and outrage” at the reports in the Sunday Times on Tshabalala-Msimang, calling them ”nothing more than character assassination”.
The NWC, which met in Johannesburg on Monday, pointed to ”the continued violation by the Sunday Times … of the principle of patient-doctor confidentiality”.
Previously, the newspaper had published information apparently emanating from the minister’s stolen medical records, alleging that she had been drinking while hospitalised for a shoulder operation.
The NWC called on the Health Professionals’ Council to take appropriate action against any health professionals found to have been involved in the leaking of the records.
It also said Sanef should make an unequivocal statement on the issue to reaffirm its commitment to upholding the ethical standards expected of the journalism profession.
”All stakeholders, including those in the media, need to act decisively to restore public confidence in the principle of patient-doctor confidentiality,” the NWC said.
Meanwhile, the Presidency has denied a claim by Democratic Alliance leader Helen Zille that in March this year President Thabo Mbeki called up surgeons at the Donald Gordon Medical Centre to insist that they approve a liver transplant for Tshabalala-Msimang.