Sonell Joubert case: Crowdfunding for podcast ‘to set the record straight’

A crowdfunding project that Zietta Janse van Rensburg launched under the name ‘Uvuka’ will fund a podcast aimed at setting the record straight in what Janse van Rensburg claims is ‘the false narrative of the media’ on Sonell Joubert’s arrest.

Lowvelder reports that since news of Joubert’s arrest broke after the death of Jurgens Nel on a Lowhills farm, Janse van Rensburg has been vocal on social media about what she claims to be premature reporting on the incident.

On the Skeletons Unearthed Facebook group, where posts are made under the pseudonym ‘Oli Olivier’, several posts were shared, including:

“Buks Viljoen was specifically warned. The Stefan de Villiers was expressly informed and warned. Yet, you chase sensation with absolute disregard for the ethical obligations, consequences and impact. The Afrikaans saying rings true: Haastige hond verbrand sy mond. Are you chasing sensation and clicks at all cost? What type of agenda would motivate to throw all caution to the wind and sell your soul… The production and legal team is producing the largest podcast to date, which will be split in portions. It will be found on this platform. Contrary to agreement, made available outside of Spotify to spread via other forms of media. It will also be loaded on the Uvuka page and website.” (sic)

‘Uvuka’ translates as ‘to awaken’ in Zulu.

On Thursday, Janse van Rensburg circulated the first WhatsApp message to numerous members of the Onderberg community requesting funding and provided details for Uvuka’s Standard Bank account.

Later, in a widely circulated voicenote, she explained the motive for the crowdfunding initiative.

Funding and podcast details

Lowvelder sent her written questions to clarify the funding initiative, but she did not respond. When contacted by phone, she said she preferred to reply in writing.

She did, however, confirm that the crowdfunding project aimed to raise funds for her podcast, describing it as a ‘positive’ step to create a ‘system’ to correct the ‘distorted’ legal system [in the country]. She said it would cost more than R60 000 to produce the podcast on Joubert.

Janse van Rensburg confirmed that Uvuka, its related Facebook page, and the podcast were all part of one initiative. Pre-publicity for the upcoming podcast was posted on the Skeletons Unearthed Facebook page. The Uvuka website is currently inactive.

When asked about the funding request, which could be interpreted as supporting Joubert’s legal costs, she said ‘part of it’ would go towards such costs.

Podcast release

Yesterday morning Janse van Rensburg announced:

“Estimated time for release… this evening… Some food for thought… We will be exposing how Detective Gold Watch, ‘investigative’ journalist Mr Kettle and various other role players are either wholly incompetent or driving an alternative agenda… What would make you throw all caution to the wind, not consider the ramifications of your conduct? We have all the dots… connect them… We do not have communications of the puppet masters or how much these people were paid or what they were promised… but we do have everything to leave you with one of two conclusions… they are grossly negligent or on a payroll… You decide.” (sic)

Lowvelder responds

Lowvelder editor Stefan de Villiers said the story on Joubert’s arrest was based on case docket notes and court confirmation.

“We are bound to stick to official information when reporting. Janse van Rensburg supplied Lowvelder with transcriptions of Joubert’s police interrogation that have not been verified by SAPS, the discovery admittance application of Jurgens Nel, a barrage of WhatsApp messages that could not be used based on the Press Code of South Africa’s Code of Conduct, and a photo of the crime scene with an axe on the floor. She is not Joubert’s attorney on record, and therefore information coming from her cannot be published at face value. We will follow the case as it unfolds.”