Media Must Stop Identifying Found Kidnapped Or Missing Children—It’s unlawful and Harmful
Johannesburg, [24th February, 2025] – Media Monitoring Africa (MMA) strongly condemns the continued identification of children who were rescued after being reported missing or kidnapped. This reckless practice is not only a violation of ethical journalism but also a breach of legal protections designed to shield vulnerable children from further harm.
Publicly identifying these children—whether through names, photographs, or videos—exposes them to significant risks, including retraumatisation, victimisation, and potential retribution from perpetrators. It further subjects them to unnecessary public scrutiny at a time when they should be given space to recover from their ordeal. Continued media exposure of the child and her family could severely compromise their ability to heal thereby underscoring the need for sensitivity and adherence to legal and ethical protections.
MMA issues this statement following the recent media coverage of the kidnapping and subsequent rescue of a nine-year-old child from Buffalo Flats in East London. Reports on this case have directly and indirectly identified the child, with some media outlets even publishing a video showing her in distress, pleading with her parents to comply with the kidnappers’ demands. While some reports acknowledge that the child has been safely reunited with her family and that criminal proceedings are underway, the continued exposure of her identity in the media is deeply concerning and completely unacceptable.
Flouting Legal and Ethical Protections
When reporting on children who have been kidnapped, abducted, or gone missing and are later found, the media must refrain from publishing their identity. Doing so violates both legal statutes and journalistic ethics while putting the child at serious risk of harm.
Legal Protections for Children
The Criminal Procedure Amendment Act (2022) explicitly prohibits the identification of minors involved in criminal proceedings, including victims, witnesses, and accused individuals. Section 154(3) of the Act states:
“No person shall before, during or at any stage after the conclusion of criminal proceedings, in any manner, including on any social media or electronic platform, publish any information which reveals or may reveal the identity of an accused, victim or witness who is or was under the age of 18-years-old at the time of the alleged commission of an offence.”
While there are general rules restricting the publication of certain information, exceptions may apply in criminal proceedings. A presiding officer may authorise the publication of certain information if such publication is deemed just and equitable, in the interest of any person, or necessary to prevent substantial injustice when no other alternatives are available.
In coverage of this story and many others on child kidnappings, the media have not revealed whether a presiding officer gave authorisation based on any of the above exceptions. Even in instances where this authorisation has been given, we submit that the media must act in the best interest of the child and minimise harm.
Ethical Breaches in Reporting
By publishing the child’s identity, the media have violated the Press Code of Ethics and Conduct for South African Print and Online Media. Section 8.1 of the Code states:
“Media must exercise exceptional care and consideration when reporting about children. If there is any chance that coverage might cause harm of any kind to a child, he or she shall not be interviewed, photographed or identified without the consent of a legal guardian or a similarly responsible adult and the child (taking into consideration the evolving capacity of the child); and a public interest is evident.”
The continued exposure of this child does not serve any public interest and further, there is no evidence that fully-informed consent was obtained from both the child and their legal guardians before publishing their details.
Call to Action
MMA urges all media houses to put the best interests of the child first, as required by Section 28(2) of the Bill of Rights in the South African Constitution.
We call on the media to:
- Immediately remove the child’s identity (including name, photographs, and video) from all articles, websites, and social media platforms.
- Issue a public explanation to readers on why the child’s identity has been withdrawn.
- Commit to ethical reporting practices by ensuring that similar breaches do not occur in future coverage.
Protecting Children in the Media Is Not Optional
The safety and well-being of children must never be compromised for the sake of a headline. MMA will continue to monitor and hold accountable any media outlets that fail to uphold legal and ethical standards in reporting on children.
Published with expert review from the Centre for Child Law.
For media inquiries, contact:
Lister Namumba-Rikhotso
Program Manager – Monitoring, Research and Analysis
📧 listerr@mma.org.za
📞 011 788 1278
Media Monitoring Africa