APOLOGY: Seaview’s Phambili High reclaims stolen school property

THE office of the Press Ombudsman has received a complaint by Mr. Zakhele Khumalo and some tenants following a story Queensburgh News published in March this year.

The story, headlined Phambili reclaims stolen school property, related Phambili High School in Seaview’s battle to remove tenants at one of its premises adjacent to the school building.

Following the Ombudsman’s directions in this regard, we apologise to the complainants for not obtaining their views and for not stating in the story that we were not able to do so, as well as for presenting the allegation, as fact, that they have agreed to vacate the premises.

The Ombudsman also cautioned us for technically incorrectly stating that the premises belonged to the school, as the relevant title deed listed the KZN Provincial Government as the owner of the premises.

A protest sparked when parents’ demands for tenants to vacate the premises were not met.
Queensburgh News was informed that the tenants had vacated the three classrooms and according to the school principal, Londa Luthuli, the remaining tenants promised to vacate the rest of the classrooms within seven days. The paper reported accordingly, which aggravated a tenant.

Journalist, Khethukuthula Lambethe-Xulu, visited the school a few days after the protest to write the story. Although she spoke to the principal, she was not able to find any tenants to comment during that, and subsequent visits – for which the Ombudsman has commended the journalist.

Visit www.presscouncil.org.za for the full finding.

Original story: https://www.citizen.co.za/highway-mail/286734/phambili-reclaims-stolen-school-property/