Key Points
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Vusi Thembekwayo Press Council complaint cites journalism ethics breach.
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He says Sunday World misrepresented facts in the fraud story.
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Complaint demands retraction and a public apology for damage done.
South African entrepreneur and speaker Vusi Thembekwayo has filed a complaint with the Press Council of South Africa.
He is challenging a Sunday World article that, according to him, misrepresented facts and breached journalism ethics.
The story, titled “Fraud allegations rock Vusi Thembekwayo and his entity,” reported on a legal dispute involving Thembekwayo and his former business partner, Justin Rovian Naidoo. Thembekwayo said the report painted a misleading and incomplete picture of the case.
His company, MyGrowthFund Venture Partners, joined him in the complaint. Their spokesperson, Vanessa Sangar, said Sunday World based its story on court documents. However, these documents had not been legally served at the time of publication.
Despite being told this, the journalist went ahead and published the article. According to Sangar, this denied Thembekwayo a chance to respond meaningfully.
She added that the Financial Sector Conduct Authority had already reviewed and dismissed some of the core claims mentioned in the article.
Ethical concerns raised over access and context
Sangar stated that the complaint highlights more than one ethical concern. It questions how Sunday World accessed the court documents.
Evidence suggests the newspaper retrieved them from an online court system before they were officially served.
She noted that such access raises legal and ethical questions. Thembekwayo believes this practice violates both journalistic norms and his legal rights.
Moreover, Sangar emphasized the damage the article has caused. She said the publication shared the piece widely on social media.
As a result, Thembekwayo and his company suffered significant reputational harm.
“This is secondary victimization,” she said. “The story was used in a commercial dispute and stripped of balance and fairness.”
Sunday World responds and defends its reporting
In response, acting editor Ngwako Malatji defended the newspaper’s actions. He said Sunday World acted within legal and journalistic boundaries. According to him, the article was based on court documents filed by Naidoo.
He stressed that the newspaper did, in fact, offer Thembekwayo the chance to comment. After receiving the documents, Thembekwayo reportedly chose not to provide a statement.
Malatji also dismissed the notion that the Press Council would rule against them. “Anyone who understands media law knows a newspaper can report on court papers,” he said.
As of now, Sunday World has not received an official notice from the Press Council. Malatji said the outlet will defend its story if and when a formal complaint arrives.
Meanwhile, Thembekwayo maintains that the article lacked journalistic integrity. He urged the Press Council to take appropriate action.
“Ethics are not optional,” he said. “This story reflects a serious lapse in judgment. We are asking the Press Council to hold the publication accountable.”
