More than a ‘slight provocation’

Your editorial comment of the 14 September 2016, in which you expressed your opinion about what you describe as the setting alight of a fire engine in Katlehong as being at the “slightest provocation” by residents of Moleleki Section, left me disenchanted and disappointed, to say the least.

I must, however, point out that after reading your piece I was left disenchanted and disappointed because your narrative is visibly skewed towards the burning of the fire engine and yet silent on the brutal killing of an Ekurhuleni resident, the late Tshepo Mahlalela (my nephew), who lost his life on that fateful day.

Disenchanted and disappointed perhaps because of what I regard as an impervious and insensitive opinion and choice of words, disenchanted and disappointed perhaps because your choice and selection of the phrase “slightest provocation” which to me represents an expression that came from your respective capacity and occupation of an editor, an occupation which also obligates you to guarantee and act as a safety net towards balanced and unbiased reporting.

Tshepo’s death was as a result of an alleged brutal and fatal slashing of his abdomen by a neighbour. It is this sort of act, although mindful that it is still yet to be proven in a court of law, which I can describe as an inhumane, savage and barbaric. Yet still, your narrative condenses this violent, savage and brutal killing of my nephew to a “slightest provocation” which triggered the burning of the fire engine.

Over and above, I remain disenchanted and disappointed because your in editorial piece, you neglected to share with your readers that an ambulance which was called to the scene to take the fatally injured young Tshepo to the nearest hospital never arrived. And this is and still remains a serious cause of concern to the family, yet your commentary piece reduces the loss of a human life to a mere “slightest provocation”.

The only intimation I can make from your opinion piece is, it seems like valuing human life to you is an unimportant concern dear editor, lest you prove me otherwise. If this intimation holds true then this will surely leave me wondering as to what kind of societal values we are promoting.

As professionals, we are expected to be at the forefront of promoting objectivity and unprejudiced presentation of events. We are expected to guarantee expressions that are balanced as we inform, educate and empower communities. We should not carry such opinion pieces without regard for human life.

Are we at a point of reducing human life to nothingness, I ask? I am asking this question considering that I regard the role of an occupation such as yours to be a leader in the pursuit of knowledge and a balanced disseminating of news for public consumption.

Plainly put, the brutal killing of my nephew left me and the rest of the family deeply hurt and saddened. To simply reduce it to a mere “slightest provocation” certainly deepens the pain. Had you bothered to pursue the facts for the purpose of ensuring a balanced opinion piece, in my capacity as the spokesperson of the bereaved family I would have let you into how hurting this loss of life has been to the family.

I would certainly have alerted you to the fact that the young Tshepo, who, in your opinion piece, was merely reduces to a “slightest provocation”, was in fact a valued member of his family who embraced life with zeal and passion. I would surely have, even in the wake of a tormented heart and heaviness of spirit triggered by his death, found a moment to share with you how the departed was raised up as a self-respecting young gentleman, a respectful young man who was loved by many within his community and who did not deserve to be reduced to a mere “slightest provocation”.

Regrettably you chose to go with the angry and condemning words expressed by the Mayor of Ekurhuleni without establishing facts, without carrying forth a balancing act and this balance is the missing link in your opinion piece that I am incensed about and railing against, dear editor!

Dr Thabang Matobako

Cachet Street

Klipportjie

Boksburg, 1459