The Editor
The Star
Via email: [email protected]
Dear Sir:
Last Friday two of the Independent’s sister newspapers – The Star and Cape Times – carried similar articles by seasoned journalist Deon de Lange on the unprecedented security lockdown on Parliament during its opening on the 9th of February. Both articles quoted a substantial portion of Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi’s pre-State of the Nation newsletter, in which he described the lockdown in detail.
The Cape Times headlined the article “Buthelezi criticises zeal”. The Star, however, distorted the content of both the article and Prince Buthelezi’s newsletter with the headline “Buthelezi rants at over-the-top security”. Whoever penned The Star’s headline clearly did not read the newsletter and grossly misinterpreted de Lange’s article.
One wonders whether this was just sloppy journalism or a deliberate attempt by The Star to portray Prince Buthelezi’s comments in a negative light.
Liezl van der Merwe
Press Liaison Officer to Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi MP
