SABC NEWS amplifies the voices of children from marginalized groups
With the advent of digital technologies and ‘non-traditional’ forms of news, the need for a diversity of perspectives and the voices of the marginalized in the established news media has never been greater.
It is for this reason that Media Monitoring Africa (MMA) awards SABC NEWS with a GLAD[1] for its article, “Limpopo initiation season comes to an end” (14/07/2024) by Sizwe Majola, wherein matters involving children living with disabilities are brought to the fore.
The news report covers the conclusion of traditional initiation season in Limpopo, where young boys are celebrated by members of their communities for completing the rites of passage ritual which sees them transition from boyhood to young adults.
The story casts a special spotlight on one of the initiates who lives with a physical disability yet did not let this deter him from participating in activities generally reserved for able bodied boys. “I’m very excited…It was my wish to go to initiation school so that I will have dignity and respect as a man, I learnt respect and how (I) must behave towards elders.” The journalist accesses the voice of the child and affords him the opportunity to be heard and celebrated on an issue that is often complex and not given adequate publishing space in the news media.
Verily, MMA would like to applaud SABC NEWS for illuminating matters that involve marginalized groups in their reporting and for accessing the child on this much maligned subject.
Article 12 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child[2] (a document of which South Africa is a signatory) states that wherever a child is capable of forming and expressing their own views, that child must be afforded the opportunity to express those views freely in all matters affecting that child. This is especially true in instances where that child is a member of a marginalised group.
Children must be afforded the opportunity to be active participants in democratic processes.
Additionally, the right of the child to participate in matters involving them is enshrined in the South African Constitution[3], which states in section 28(2) of the Bill of Rights that “A child’s best interests are of paramount importance in every matter concerning the child.” Therefore, journalists and other media practitioners shoulder a responsibility to ensure that children’s views are given due weight and consideration in all coverage that relates to children’s matters.
By doing so, journalist enhance the human rights ideals and contribute towards building a truly egalitarian society.
MMA hopes that SABC NEWS will continue to practice this kind of good journalism when reporting on matters that involve children.
Written by Tumelo Hlaka
Edited by Ntombifuthi Kubeka
[1] GLAD’s are awarded to news media for reporting on children’s issues responsibly and for accessing their voices.
[2] https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/convention-rights-child