A complaint was received by a company called S.P. Metal Forgings (Pty) Ltd that the programme 3rd 
Degree presented distorted facts and ambushed the complainant company through “trial by media” in a programme in which controversial issues of public importance were discussed, namely the dismissal of an employee after a sex change operation. The employer of the dismissed person was another company called Bohler Uddeholm Africa (Pty) Ltd and it is this company that was being targeted in the programme. Bohler Uddeholm Africa (Pty) Ltd was not prepared to talk to the 3rd Degree team despite efforts by them to have their views aired. In this regard, no contravention of clause 36 of Code was found. As far as clause 35 is concerned, it was also found that there was no contravention because the facts on which allegations were based appeared from the evidence revealed in the interviews. It was also found that there was no duty on the producers to have the views of the complainant, S.P. Metal Forgings (Pty) Ltd, aired because the name of the company was not mentioned once in programme. No contravention of the Code was found and the complaint was not upheld.
