North West commercial radio station YOU FM has publicly apologised to March and March movement leader Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma after incorrectly attributing the phrase “foreigners must perish” to her during a media briefing held in Midrand this week.
In a statement, the station acknowledged that one of its journalists made an error while covering the March and March press conference held on 24 June.
“During the question-and-answer session our journalist Mr. Kgagelo Magolego incorrectly attributed the phrase ‘foreigners must perish’ to Ms. Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma,” the statement reads.
YOU FM said an internal review found that the attribution was inaccurate.
“Our preliminary findings have since established that this attribution was inaccurate and does not reflect what was said by Ms. Ngobese-Zuma.”
The station issued an unreserved apology, saying they withdraw the incorrect attribution and apologise to Ngobese Zuma for any inconvenience resulting from this unfortunate error.
“We further confirm that the content of the altercation did not form part of our news bulletins. YOU, FM is a prominent regional commercial radio station serving the North-West Province and Tshwane. Our news policy is strongly anchored by accuracy, fairness and integrity. These are fundamental principles and pillars of our journalism. Our commitment to robust, honest and fair engagement with newsmakers will not be compromised and/or altered by errors committed during the course of our work.”
The apology comes after Ngobese-Zuma addressed journalists in Midrand alongside more than 20 civic organisations ahead of the planned nationwide anti-illegal immigration demonstrations scheduled for 30 June. During the briefing, she rejected allegations that her movement is funded by foreign interests and insisted the demonstrations would be peaceful, despite growing concern from government and civil society groups over possible unrest.
The March and March movement has been at the centre of South Africa’s immigration debate in recent months after demanding tougher enforcement of immigration laws and calling on undocumented foreign nationals to leave the country by the end of June.
