Press Council rules against The Citizen in Lesufi complaint

Premier Panyaza Lesufi’s complaint against The Citizen has partially succeeded, with the Press Ombud ordering a public apology and retraction over one statement linking him to the Tembisa Hospital scandal.

What Was the Complaint About?

Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi lodged a formal complaint after The Citizen published an editorial titled “Do the right thing, Lesufi – resign” on 15 October 2025.

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He argued the article:

• Wrongly stated that he oversaw wasteful school sanitation spending during Covid
• Incorrectly claimed the Tembisa Hospital looting happened “on his watch”
• Breached clauses on accuracy, context, and protected comment in the SA Press Code

What Did the Ombud Decide?

Deputy Press Ombud Tyrone August reviewed the case and issued this split ruling:

Key Points from the Ruling

• Lesufi was not Premier at the time of the Tembisa scandal in 2021
• The SIU found no direct wrongdoing or oversight failure by Lesufi in school sanitation contracts
• The Citizen’s editorial omitted material context, such as Lesufi’s public support for the SIU probe
• The publication must now apologise, retract the statement online and in print, and link to the ruling

Summary of Actions Ordered

• Retract the line: “This happened, again, on his watch.”
• Publish an apology on all platforms where the editorial appeared
• Add an Editor’s Note linking to the full Press Ombud ruling
• Headline must include “Apology” and “Panyaza Lesufi”

Why It Matters

This ruling clarifies media responsibility in opinion journalism — especially when public reputations are at stake. It also underlines that protected comment must still reflect truthful timelines and facts.

🔗 Full ruling available via Press Council