Pretoria News editor Piet Rampedi apologises for his '10 babies' story

--:--
Pretoria News editor Piet Rampedi has apologised to his colleagues for the damage his story on SA’s so-called “Thembisa 10” babies did to Independent Media’s reputation.
Two weeks ago, Rampedi broke the “story” of how Gosiame Sithole had “given birth to 10 babies at a Pretoria hospital”. But almost immediately suspicions were raised as health officials in Gauteng said they were unable to verify or confirm the births, which would have been a world record.
In the interim, the publication — and its online platform IOL — doubled down on the story, continuing to profess its accuracy and, at one stage, saying that health authorities were part of a cover-up.
In a letter to Independent Media’s editor-in-chief Aneez Salie, Rampedi apologises for how the story was handled — but also accuses other media houses and journalists of scrutinising the story simply because he wrote it and because it was published by an Independent group title.
23 Jun 2021 3AM English South Africa News · Daily News

Other recent episodes

Jacob Zuma named presidential candidate for MK party

The MK party has announced 81-year-old former president Jacob Zuma as its presidential candidate in the national and provincial elections. They do not want any engagements on the topic, said the party’s youth leader Bonginkosi Khanyile. Zuma has ambitions of being president again to “fix things” but the constitution will…
13 Mar 9AM 5 min

Sifiso Mkhwanazi guilty of murdering and raping six Joburg sex workers

Sifiso Mkhwanazi has been found guilty by the Gauteng High Court sitting in Palm for killing six Johannesburg sex workers. On Wednesday Judge Cassim Moosa found Mkhwanazi guilty of six counts of murder, six of rape, six of defeating the ends of justice, and illegal possession of a firearm and…
13 Mar 7AM 1 min

Accused in Joshlin Smith case abandon bail, charges against one suspect withdrawn 

Three of the four suspects alleged to be involved in the disappearance of six-year-old Joshlin Smith, have abandoned their bail applications. Additionally, the state withdrew charges against accused number four, Phumza Sigaqa.  The accused, who are charged with kidnapping and human trafficking appeared in the Vredenburg magistrate’s court on Wednesday. Joshlin’s…
13 Mar 6AM 5 min

Zuma says he'll give up if MK Party is not voted into power

MK Party leading member Jacob Zuma says if voters don’t vote for his party and “liberate” black people that would be the last straw and he would give up the cause. He would wash his hands of his attempts to free black South Africans. He is the number one candidate…
12 Mar 9AM 2 min