CASE NO: 26/2010 – SOOKHA VS e.tv – NEWS

This case concerns a complaint regarding a news item about the alleged killing of a Tshwane Metro Police officer by a Blue Bulls rugby player by the name of Bees Roux. From the wording of the complaint, it appears that the Complainant heard words to the effect that  the widow of the police officer would not forgive the murder(ing) of her husband and while these words were said, according to the Complainant, a photo of the rugby player was shown.  The  implication of this, according to the Complainant, is that the rugby player was guilty of the murder of the police officer.  After listening carefully to the recording of the news item, the Tribunal found that the Complainant did not hear correctly what was said in the news item and that the correct position was that it was only alleged that the rugby player murdered the police officer. No contravention of the Code was found by the Tribunal and the complaint was not upheld.