Key Takeaways
- The City Press reported on allegations of governance issues at the University of South Africa (UNISA), including a claim that the chairperson of the portfolio committee on higher education, Tebogo Letsie, was irregularly awarded a R82-million security tender.
- Mr. Letsie and UNISA have denied the allegations, stating that no such tender exists.
- City Press has removed the allegation from the article and apologized to Mr. Letsie for not seeking comment from him prior to publication.
Introduction to the Allegations
The City Press reported on December 6 on widely disseminated allegations concerning governance at the University of South Africa (UNISA). The allegations, which were made by Mr. Simamkele Xami, included a claim that the chairperson of the portfolio committee on higher education, Tebogo Letsie, was irregularly awarded a R82-million security tender by UNISA. This allegation sparked a significant response, with many calling for an investigation into the matter. However, after the publication of the article, Mr. Letsie and UNISA came forward to deny the allegations.
Denial of Allegations
In response to the allegations, Mr. Tebogo Letsie, the chairperson of the parliamentary committee on higher education, publicly denied that he had ever benefitted from any tender issued by UNISA. He stated that the allegations were false and that he had not received any such tender. Similarly, UNISA issued a statement denying that any security tender for R82-million exists. The university’s denial of the allegation suggests that there may have been an error or misinformation in the original claim. The denials by both Mr. Letsie and UNISA have raised questions about the validity of the allegations and the sources of the information.
Action Taken by City Press
After the denials by Mr. Letsie and UNISA, City Press took steps to correct the record. The publication removed the allegation from the article, citing a lack of evidence to support the claim. Additionally, City Press apologized to Mr. Letsie for failing to seek comment from him prior to publication. This action demonstrates a commitment to accuracy and fairness in reporting, and acknowledges that the publication may have caused harm to Mr. Letsie’s reputation by not giving him an opportunity to respond to the allegations before they were published.
Importance of Accurate Reporting
The incident highlights the importance of accurate reporting and the need for publications to verify information before publishing. In this case, the allegations made by Mr. Xami were widely disseminated, and it was not until after publication that the denials by Mr. Letsie and UNISA were made public. The removal of the allegation and the apology to Mr. Letsie demonstrate a commitment to correcting errors and ensuring that the publication maintains the highest standards of journalism. The incident also serves as a reminder of the potential consequences of inaccurate reporting, including damage to individuals’ reputations and the spread of misinformation.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the allegations made by Mr. Xami concerning governance at UNISA, including the claim that Mr. Letsie was irregularly awarded a R82-million security tender, have been denied by both Mr. Letsie and UNISA. City Press has taken steps to correct the record, removing the allegation from the article and apologizing to Mr. Letsie for not giving him an opportunity to respond to the allegations before publication. The incident highlights the importance of accurate reporting and the need for publications to verify information before publishing. It also demonstrates a commitment to fairness and accuracy in reporting, and acknowledges the potential consequences of inaccurate reporting.