A complaint was received that the dignity and privacy of Ms Janse van Vuren was infringed after the Broadcaster broadcasted various consumer complaints against her conduct emanating from their respective wedding dresses sale agreements. The consumers complaints reflected their own personal comments and reflection of the status quo, thus comments as per clause 28.2 of the Code of Conduct. The consumers’ complaints entailed controversial issues of public importance, hence the Complainant was invited to state her side of the story but refused. The latter refusal was reiterated through her legal representatives which resulted in her being ‘an author of her own misfortune’. In light of the Code of Conduct, the Broadcaster managed to still incorporate her responses into the broadcast with the aim of providing balance as per the provisions of clause 28.3 of Code of Conduct. The Tribunal found that the Broadcaster did not contravene the latter provisions and that the Broadcaster made various efforts to try and incorporate the Complainant’s version. Lastly, it was found that the right to dignity and privacy of the Complainant was overridden by a legitimate public interest, as determined by the provisions of clause 28.4 thus no contravention of this clause was found. The complaint is not upheld.
