That’s all good and well, except that the media has taken the liberty of naming the man and identifying his family by printing his name and photo, their address, and a photo of the house.
As a parent I understand the need to take such scum off our streets and out of society. What I do not understand is the media’s belief that they have the right to dictate how justice is served and by whom.
What gives the press the right to try him before he has even had his day in court?
South Africa supposedly applies the “innocent until proven guilty” premise but the press and its determination to sensationalise every story certainly does not.
Who are we to say she could have escaped? We do not know the conditions in which she was being held so how can the public jump to the assumption that she is partly to blame and could have done something to stop him?
What is more worrying is that some media have even lambasted the 16-year-old daughter for being sexually active with no evidence as to whether she was or not, and if she was, whether she was raped or was a voluntary participant.
The media is so quick to jump on the bandwagon and print whatever they want but what proof has the court seen that there is any truth to half the rumours being flaunted in the papers and on their websites?
The Addie at least has not printed most of the allegations and I applaud you for refraining from joining the hordes and not naming him or printing pictures of the man or, more importantly, the innocent children.
Anonymous,
Selcourt.
