Complaints Form

Before completing this form, please read:

If you wish to lodge a complaint regarding an article published in print and/or online, you can use this online Complaints Form, but please first read the "General information for complaints", accessible below.

If you have any difficulty lodging your complaint using our online form, please email the complaint to enquiries@ombudsman.org.za.

Have you read General information for complaints?

Please read General information for complaints before completing the Complaints Form. Please continue completing the Complaints Form.

Your Details

Are you submitting the complaint on behalf of another person, a group or class of persons, or an organization?

Name of the person, the group or class of persons, or the organization:

Explain your authority to lodge the complaint on behalf the person, the group or class of persons, or the organization, e.g. spokesperson, legal representative, chairperson (proof may be requested):

* First Name

* Surname

* Email

* Contact Number

Alternative Contact Number

Physical Address

First line

Second line

Suburb

Town/City

Province

Postal Code

Country

Regarding Pending or contemplated legal proceedings

In accordance with the Complaints Procedures of the Press Council of South Africa, please answer the following questionnaire

a. Are the issues which are the subject matter of this complaint against the publication concerned pending at present before any court of law?

b. Does the complainant in the event that the complaint is resolved in his/her favour or to his/her satisfaction intend to or contemplate at any time in the future instituting proceedings in any court of law against the publication concerned based on the issues which are the subject matter of the complaint?

c. Does the complainant in the event that the complaint is not resolved in his/her favour or to his/ her satisfaction intend to or contemplate at any time in the future instituting proceedings in any court of law against the publication concerned based on the issues which are the subject matter of the complaint?

If any were to be in the affirmative, please advise why the Public Advocate should not at this stage defer acceptance of the complaint pending the finalisation of the pending or contemplated legal proceedings.

Publication Details

* Name of Publication

Name of Publication (If not in drop-down)

* Publication date

Is this complaint lodged within 20 working days after the article complained about was published?

Please motivate why the lateness of the lodging of the complaint should be condoned. (Please note that ignorance of the time limit is not an acceptable excuse.)

Published in print and/or online?

Headline of article in print

Headline of article online

Link (URL) to online article If possible, please attach a pdf/jpeg of the print article below under the upload documents section.

Complaint Details

Which sections of the Press Code have allegedly been breached?(For example: 1.1, 1.8 and 3.3.)

* Please formulate your complaint by quoting relevant sentences/paragraphs from the article, motivating why you object to it, and if possible, indicate which section of the Press Code you think have been breached. (PLEASE NOTE: If the complaint is more than one A4 page, please attach the document as a Word or pdf document below under UPLOAD DOCUMENTS. The complaint should normally not exceed five A4 pages – 10/15 pages in complicated matters. Annexures to the complaint should be limited to the absolute minimum, and attached in one document.)

What relief you are seeking? (For example a correction, retraction, apology or right of reply – see section 7.2 of the Complaints Procedures.)

Upload Documents/Attachments

Protection of Personal Information

Do you consent to the Press Council of South Africa to gather and use your personal information for purposes of dealing with your complaint in accordance with the Council’s Protection of Personal Information Policy? I Consent