Ombudsman reprimands Sunday World over allegations of “apartheid flag” at Bela march
The press ombudsman ruled in AfriForum and Solidarity’s favour on Friday (10 January 2025) regarding these organisations’ complaints against Sunday World. These complaints stem from false allegations in a Sunday World opinion piece in which it was stated that the “apartheid flag was flying high” during the Bela protest march on 5 November 2024, which was organised by institutions of the Solidarity Movement.
This is the second time in the past two months that the press ombudsman has ruled against Sunday World in AfriForum’s favour. In November 2024, the ombudsman also found that the newspaper had falsely claimed that AfriForum was claiming that a white genocide is underway in South Africa and that this organisation “refuses to cry foul” about murders of black people. Sunday World published these false allegations in August 2024.
The most recent ruling on complaints submitted by AfriForum and Solidarity to the press ombudsman follows an opinion piece with the heading “Moegoe” which appeared in the newspaper’s printed edition on 10 November 2024 and on the newspaper’s online platform on 11 November 2024. The press ombudsman found on Friday that Sunday World had breached the press code and ruled that the newspaper must publish an apology and a correction in both its print and online editions in the coming week.
This article labels AfriForum as Sunday World’s “Moegoe of the week”. In it, the anonymous author rants against “some sections of the South African population” who are “a shameless bunch”. The author also expresses strong criticism against the wearers of orange t-shirts at the protest march, drawing a connection between the use of “apartheid” symbols and the public display of Nazi symbols in Germany, despite the absence of any “apartheid” symbols at the march.
In his finding, the deputy press ombudsman, Franz Krüger, says that section 1.3 of the press code has been violated by an unfounded claim (that the “apartheid flag” was flown at the Bela protest march) being presented as fact.
In addition to the correction and apology under a heading that must contain the words “apology”, “AfriForum” and “Solidarity”, Krüger also ruled that Sunday World must publish a summary of the verdict.
Solidarity and AfriForum welcome the ruling and trust that Sunday World and its editor will respect the finding.
“The second ruling that has now been made in AfriForum’s favour against Sunday World must send a very clear message to this newspaper and other media that are spreading lies about AfriForum and Solidarity and show that we will act effectively and successfully against those who spread falsehoods about us,” emphasises Ernst van Zyl, Head of Public Relations at AfriForum.
Pieter Jordaan, Manager of News and Publicity at Solidarity, says that the aim of irresponsible allegations like that made by Sunday World is to undermine the reputation and credibility of Solidarity and AfriForum – and in this case also the Bela protest march. “Fortunately, the attempt was completely unsuccessful, and the publication’s credibility suffered more than anything else. This should be a lesson for Sunday World and other commentators. The Bela march was, in fact, a necessary, successful and orderly gathering during which Afrikaners’ feelings on the issue of mother language education were emphasised as clearly as possible. It is a battle that will be continued at full steam in 2025,” says Jordaan.
