Corrections And Clarifications 2013
April 26
Clarification
In a graphic illustrating a feature dealing with attitudes towards homosexuality in the various religions in last week’s Mail & Guardian ("This church welcomes homosexuals", April 19), I was quoted giving the Orthodox Jewish perspective and identified in my capacity as associate director of the SA Jewish Board of Deputies.
I was in error in commenting on the issue. The Board of Deputies does not take any particular position on questions of religious doctrine, and I apologise for any misunderstanding my comments may have caused in this regard. – David Saks
April 25
In an article, "Vavi fight gets vicious: Cosatu leadership battle heats up", detailing fresh developments in the campaign to oust Cosatu General Secretary Zwelinzima Vavi from his post, wereported on complaints by union leaders that Corruption Watch, an organization Vavi helped to found, was investigating Cosatu affiliate unions.
That report requires clarification and correction.
It is true that union leaders opposed to Vavi are complaining both privately and in public about what they believe are Corruption Watch investigations into them.
And it is true that a series of anonymous allegations against Satawu, Ceppawu, Popcru leaders, among others, were submitted to the organization.
However, we misinterpreted Corruption Watch’s own explanation of the situation, which we quoted in the story.
Corruption Watch has made it clear that while it did receive these complaints, it decided for various reasons not to pursue them.
We regret the error.
April 12
On December 14 2012 we published an article titled “Campaign to kick Mkhize upstairs”. The article contained a quote from an unnamed person who insinuated that Mkhize’s family, especially his daughters, were benefitting from his position. One of his daughters has pointed out that she is not in business and was not asked to comment on the story. We contacted Dr Mkhize for comment, but he was not asked about this specific allegation. The M&G regrets any inconvenience caused.
In an article on March 22 2012, entitled “Diary of ‘incest’ rips SA family apart”, the M&G incorrectly stated that the California Court of Appeal “barred” Ivor and Joan Jacobson from visiting their grandchildren in the US. In fact, the court reversed an earlier ruling by the Superior Court, which had granted the Jacobsons visitation rights. No court has issued any order banning them from visiting. In addition, in a paragraph describing psychosexual evaluations that Ivor underwent, it was incorrectly implied that this included a “pallometry” test.
The M&G also incorrectly inserted the phrase “the ruling” in parenthesis in quoting Joan Jacobson saying: “[The ruling] brought back all the terror ...” In fact, Joan provided this quote in response to requests for comment from the M&G, and so the phrase should properly have read: “[Your request for comment] brought back all the terror …” We regret the errors.
February 5
The headline to the article "Census 2011 irregularities: Top officials pressured" was changed on February 5 from "Census 2011 irregularities: Top officials 'bullied'". The Mail & Guardian believes that "pressured" is a better reflection of the facts.
January 31
A previous version of the story "Parastatals 'bullied' into supporting the 'New Age' ", incorrectly named Denel as one of the implicated parastatals. We regret the error.
March 26
A previous version of the story "Tiger re-employs CFO who quit during price-fixing row" incorrectly attributed the fourth paragraph to Alex Mathole. This has been rectified.
