This alert is issued by GEMSA Botswana. For further information contact the Botswana Gemsa Representative and BOMWA Chairperson, Keabonye Ntsabane on +267 71749644. South Africa Alert 27 June 2007 Saartjie Baartman The Saartjie Baartman Centre for Women and Children (SBCWC) wishes to submit a complaint about an article entitled “Night Crawlers” that appeared in the Cape Sun on 8 June 2007 page 5. Adam Nelson wrote the article, which describes the deteriorating state of Sir Lowry’s Pass River and the people living there informally. He also took the accompanying photographs. The SBCWC submits that while the state of Sir Lowry’s Pass River is newsworthy, the article conflates the issue by going into explicit detail about the sexual lives of the people living informally in the vicinity of the river. We condemn, in the strongest terms, the undignified and degrading way in which especially one of the female inhabitants is depicted. No sensitivity is paid to the dignity and human rights of the woman by publishing a photograph of her putting on her under garments. We feel that Viola Claasen’s life story and rape at the age of eight is not relevant to the focus of the article, which is the degradation of the river. Further, the article trivialises the protracted child abuse the woman in question was subjected to by writing flippantly about her rape at the age of eight and her giving birth at the age of fourteen. We also feel that the use of terminology such as “tart” to describe her is highly demeaning and insulting. The SBCWC submits that the article was presented in such a manner that it violated the following clauses of the Press Code of Conduct: 1.2 News shall be presented in context and in a balanced manner, without an intentional or negligent departure from the facts whether by: 1.2.1 distortion, exaggeration or misrepresentation; 1.2.2 material omissions; or 1.2.3 summarisation. 1.7 Reports, photographs or sketches relative to matters involving indecency or obscenity shall be presented with due sensitivity towards the prevailing moral climate. 1.10 In both news and comment, the press shall exercise exceptional care and consideration in matters involving the private lives and concerns of individuals, bearing in mind that any right to privacy may be overridden by a legitimate public interest. So This Is Democracy? 2007 -12- Media Institute of Southern Africa