The media, and especially Weskus Nuus, are not above error.
When we do make a mistake we apologise and correct it.
Even though there were no official complaints, as this is dealt with via email, as stated in our company policy, and made with the editor and ombudsman, we still investigated the matter.
According to the official police report, the female victim was “stabbed in the neck and chest.”
This is also what the journalist wrote in his article, and from what has been ascertained the facts in the article are correct.
Journalists are not responsible for the writing of any headline in any newsroom.
Regarding Weskus Nuus’ operations, this is done by sub-editors in a centralised hub based in Somerset West (currently working from home at the time of the Covid-19 pandemic).
An official complaint would have allowed us to investigate, together with the manager of the centralised hub, who had written the headline so it could be addressed.
Ultimately, the buck stops with the editor or acting editor, which was the case in this instance.
We apologise to our readers for the misleading headline, and that it was perceived as insensitive.
This was certainly not our intention.
The headline was changed the same day the article was published on our online platform.
Gender-based violence is a pandemic in South Africa and certainly in Atlantis.
We hope the attention the headline received added to shining a spotlight on this pandemic, and that measures will be taken to stop any violence against women, children and even men of the community.
– Ed
