Mixing fact and fiction

DEAR SIR — Your correspondent regrettably mixes fact and fiction in his story on the lecture delivered by Cyril Ramaphosa at Wits (Ramaphosa urges critics to accept tradeoffs and implement NDP, September 11).

He writes: “Mr (Trevor) Manuel delivered this year’s Ruth First lecture at the university last month. Displeased mine workers attending that lecture walked out after they were told Mr Manuel was not present to answer questions.” Mr Manuel was present throughout the event, that ended with a concert by Johnny Clegg. The event was managed by the chairperson of the Ruth First Committee, Anton Harber.

There is a vast difference between asking questions and an opportunity to fling abuse.

No questions were asked, nor was an attempt made to ask questions.

The “displeased mineworkers” who “walked out”, was an employee of the University of Johannesburg.

If indeed your correspondent had been present, he may have reported on the lecture and not tagged it onto another story unprofessionally two weeks later along with bits and bobs about the views of Investec’s Stephen Koseff, the tripartite alliance and the African National Congress secretarygeneral Gwede Mantashe.

What might we have to do to have reporting that is indeed both fair and accurate?

Trevor Manuel, MP

Via e-mail