Press Council Orders Iqbal Survé's Media to Apologize for Defamatory Column Against Karyn Maughan

In a landmark decision upholding journalistic integrity, the Press Council of South Africa has delivered a verdict against the Sunday Independent, a publication under Iqbal Survé’s media umbrella, ordering an apology to journalist Karyn Maughan for a disparaging column. Published in March 2024, the piece in question compared Maughan to Leni Riefenstahl, known for her Nazi propaganda films. This not only caused a stir across social media networks but also raised serious concerns about the protection of journalists’ reputations.

The column accused Maughan of being a racist and directly attacked her credibility as a journalist through the unwarranted comparison. The Press Council's ruling required a public apology to be issued within seven days from August 6, under a heading “Apology to Karyn Maughan,” and the contentious online article to be replaced with a note summarizing the ruling and extending said apology.

Deliberating over the principles of the free press and commentary rights, the Press Council's deputy ombud Franz Krüger, along with his colleagues, weighed the gravity of harm caused by the article against the standards of protected comment. The press code protects criticism provided it is not malicious, deals with matters of public interest, is based on true or reasonably true facts, and appears without hidden intentions. The column's contents failed to meet these standards and were deemed damaging to Maughan's dignity and professional standing.

In these times, where women journalists often face the threat of online harassment, the council stressed the heightened responsibility editors have to mitigate potential abuse. It specifically referred to a subsequent post on a social platform, considered to compound the original article's harm, where Survé suggested that the defense of Maughan by certain media groups indicated CIA involvement, using inflammatory language.

Sunset on anonymity: The mysterious author of the column, Edmond Phiri, a presumed pseudonymous personality formulated within Survé’s media confines, was ultimately presented during the hearing, though his physical appearance remained unverified due to claimed technical constraints. The revelation that Phiri may indeed be a facade for multiple individuals speaks to the broader issue of manufactured news and authorship within Survé’s media outlets.

Navigating through these turbulent waters, the Press Council's directive serves as a reminder that facts, ethics, and human dignity are foundational pillars that should dictate the operations of the press. Any deviation ripples through the societal fabric, underpinning the essential nature of balanced and responsible journalism.