SAJBD KZN Council President Jeremy Droyman and Council member Mike Caminsky met with the editor of the Sunday Tribute, Mr Sandile Mdadane, this morning to discuss the misleading street poster and newspaper headline that appeared in that paper earlier this week. The front-page read, “Rabbi lures youth to lair”. Mr Droyman shared that Mr Mdadane was extremely warm and receptive. He apologised for the error and will formally do so in print in the upcoming edition. He also offered to publish the SAJBD KZN Council letter of concern expressing the need for sensitivity when dealing with different religions. Please see letter below. Mr Droyman commented that he looked forward to further positive engagements with the Sunday Tribune.
Dear Mr Mdadane
I write to you regarding the street poster and front-page headline of the Sunday Tribune (1/12/19). The caption reads, “Rabbi lures youth to lair”. A Rabbi refers to a Jewish spiritual leader who teaches Judaism. While the article clearly notes that the person in the article is, in fact, Pastor Siza Madladla and that he is referred to as “Rabbi”. However, the incorrect impression created in the title is that of a Jewish Rabbi. Had Rabbi been written in quotation marks, it would have solved the problem and the headline would have not been misleading.
The same title also appeared on your online story and I would appreciate it if you could make the necessary changes to that, as soon as possible.
We respectively request that in future, when references to religion are used (irrespective of which religion), that they be used with sensitivity.
Yours sincerely
Jeremy Droyman
President SAJBD KZN Council