Material Factual Errors
CTNews will consider corrections where a published report contains a significant error involving names, dates, locations, figures, quotations, descriptions, official positions or other verifiable facts.
Corrections & Complaints Policy
Cape Town News is committed to correcting material errors, considering legitimate complaints and providing a fair process for people and organisations affected by our reporting.
Cape Town News aims to publish accurate, fair and properly attributed journalism across Cape Town and the Western Cape.
Despite careful verification, errors may occasionally occur. When a material factual error is confirmed, CTNews will correct or update the relevant report as promptly as reasonably possible.
This policy explains how readers, sources and affected parties may raise concerns, request a correction, submit a complaint or exercise a right of reply.
What Cape Town News Will Correct
Material Omissions
A report may be updated where important verified information was omitted and that omission materially changes the reader's understanding of the matter.
Source And Credit Errors
CTNews will correct inaccurate source credits, author attributions, photograph credits or statements that incorrectly identify where information originated.
Developing Stories
Breaking reports may be updated as new verified facts emerge. An update does not necessarily indicate that the original report was incorrect.
What Is Not Automatically A Correction
Not every disagreement establishes a factual error. CTNews will distinguish between verifiable inaccuracies and disputes involving interpretation, political disagreement, criticism, opinion, tone or competing accounts.
A request to remove accurate reporting merely because it is unfavourable, embarrassing or commercially inconvenient will not normally justify a correction or deletion.
CTNews may still add relevant context, an official response or a later development where doing so improves fairness and public understanding.
How To Submit A Correction Or Complaint
- Provide your full name and reliable contact details
- Include the headline and link to the relevant CTNews article
- Identify the exact statement or information being disputed
- Explain why the information is inaccurate, incomplete or unfair
- Provide documents, records, statements or other supporting evidence
- State whether you are directly affected or acting for an organisation
- Identify any specific correction or response you are requesting
Submit Your Request
Correction requests, editorial complaints and right-of-reply submissions should be sent to editorial@ctnews.co.za.
Please use the subject line Correction or Editorial Complaint and include the relevant article link.
How The Review Process Works
Receipt And Initial Review
The newsroom reviews the complaint, identifies the disputed material and checks whether sufficient supporting information has been supplied.
Verification
CTNews may review source documents, recordings, correspondence, public records and statements from the relevant parties.
Editorial Decision
The newsroom determines whether the article requires correction, clarification, additional context, an update, a response or no change.
Outcome
Where appropriate, CTNews will inform the complainant of the outcome and publish the necessary correction or update.
How Corrections Are Published
Minor spelling, punctuation or formatting errors may be corrected without a formal notice where they do not affect the meaning of the report.
Where a material factual error is corrected, CTNews may add a correction or update note explaining what changed. The wording and placement will depend on the seriousness of the error and its effect on the original report.
CTNews will not silently alter a material fact in a way that misleads readers about the original publication history.
Right Of Reply
Individuals and organisations directly named or materially affected by CTNews reporting may submit a factual response for editorial consideration.
A right-of-reply submission should address the specific statements in question, identify the authorised respondent and provide supporting evidence where relevant.
CTNews may edit responses for length, clarity, repetition, legal risk and factual accuracy. The publication is not obliged to reproduce a submission in full.
Removal And Unpublishing Requests
Cape Town News does not normally remove accurate public-interest reporting simply because circumstances later become uncomfortable or reputationally damaging.
Removal, anonymisation or de-indexing requests may be considered in exceptional circumstances involving compelling legal, safety, privacy or ethical reasons.
Each request will be assessed individually, taking into account accuracy, public interest, harm, fairness, legal obligations and the integrity of the public record.
Editorial Independence
Corrections and complaints are considered on their factual and editorial merits. Advertisers, sponsors, donors, commercial partners and political actors do not have the right to demand changes to accurate independent reporting.
Sponsored material and commercial partnerships are clearly identified and remain separate from CTNews editorial decision-making.
Response Times
CTNews aims to review serious and clearly supported correction requests as promptly as reasonably possible. Urgent matters involving substantial factual harm may receive priority.
Complex complaints may require additional time for document review, source verification, legal consideration or consultation with affected parties.
Editorial Standard
This policy should be read together with the Cape Town News Editorial Code, Contact Cape Town News page and Trusted Sources page.
Cape Town News is published by Lashmar Media (Pty) Ltd.
Contact The Cape Town Newsroom
Submit a correction request, editorial complaint, right of reply or supporting evidence directly to the CTNews editorial team.
