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Independent Media suspends three journos for inaccurate Luthuli House article
The media company said its journalists failed to live up to the highest standards for ethical reporting.
Chief Albert Luthuli House, the ANC’s headquarters. Picture: Google
Independent Media has apologised unconditionally to the ANC for an inaccurate story published on both Sunday Independent and IOL websites.
The article alleged that Albert Luthuli House, the ruling party’s headquarters situated near Independent Media’s Johannesburg offices on Pixley ka Seme Street, would be auctioned off due to the ANC’s failure to pay R25 million to Resurgent Risk Managers.
The article, which appears to have been taken down, alleged the Johannesburg High Court had ordered the sheriff to auction off the building, a version of events denied by both the ANC and Resurgent Risk Managers.
Resurgent Risk Managers is reported to have pointed out there was no court judgment. This information led to an internal investigation that resulted in the suspension of the three journalists who co-wrote the article.
The freelance journalist who wrote the story is said to have failed to corroborate the information and did not properly identify legal documentation. Legal documentation in this case could refer to court orders available to journalists.
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