Newswatch: Five years ago allegations arose in the Western Cape that two Cape Argus reporters were being paid to write stories aimed at giving the advantage to then-premier Ebrahim Rasool in his battle against a rival ANC faction. Now, reports Times Live, one of the journalists involved, Ashley Smith, has admitted to being paid to write the pro-Rasool articles. Meanwhile, yesterday's Cape Argus devoted its front page and further pages to an exposé and recorded how it has tried for almost five years to get to the bottom of the allegations.
For more:
Times Live: Argus reporter 'was Rasool's man'... Ashley Smith resigned during the inquiry the Cape Argus set up to get to the bottom of the issue, but has now, finally, admitted to writing pro-Rasool articles for cash. Rasool denies paying Smith... but then he would deny it, wouldn't he.
IOL: Five-year hunt for a smoking gun... A five-year search has ended in success - and probably opened a can of worms... Rasool denies any wrongdoing, of course, and his successor, Lynne Brown (according to Cape Argus, page 15 June 30 edition) first denied knowing that a certain meeting in which the payments were discussed, was taped - and then admitted that she had actually ordered the meeting to be taped. Yesterday's report also says that the ANC's Max Ozinsky had called the Cape Argus editor, Chris Whitfield, and repeated the accusations - but apparently, despite repeated requests to provide the evidence, didn't provide anything at all. However, in November 2009 he also wrote an article in Mail & Guardian in which he claimed to have given documents to the Cape Argus that helped expose the Rasool government's relationship with senior journalists.
IOL: Cape Argus - Our Standard... The Cape Argus has undertaken to continue its efforts to get to the bottom of this issue, and also undertakes to root out corruption in the ranks of its journalists and take appropriate action. Now... if certain politicians would just follow through and back up their accusations with hard evidence, and if an ex-premier would provide the tape which never was, but which she then admits to having actually ordered to be made, we may get to the bottom of this sorry saga that has seen the betrayal of the ethics that journalism and public service should stand for.
