Dear Adv Masako,
Your complaint against Pretoria News refers.
You complain about a story that has been published some years ago.
The gist of the issue is that you were convicted and sentenced by a court of law (about which Pretoria News has reported). In March 2016, however, the Appeals Court found for you – and now you want a retraction and an apology from the newspaper, adding that it has not reported on your acquittal.
I am not even going to mention the details of your complaint or of these stories, as Section 1.3 of our Complaints Procedures does not allow me to entertain a matter that has been published so long ago.
A retraction or an apology is therefore out of the question.
Also, Pretoria News has covered the result of your (successful) appeal.
Our Complaints Procedures lay down that within seven working days of receipt of this decision, you may apply for leave to appeal to the Chairperson of the SA Press Appeals Panel, Judge Bernard Ngoepe, fully setting out the grounds of appeal. He can be contacted at Khanyim@ombudsman.org.za.
Regards,
Johan Retief
Press Ombud