Xenophobia: the photos you need to see
A news article that captures the shocking and cruel face of xenophobia has become the subject of a giant debate on Twitter.
You may’ve read the article in the Sunday Times newspaper yesterday, The brutal death of Emmanuel Sithole - by reporter Beauregard Tromp and photographer James Oatway, that has got South Africans talking. Almost everyone has zeroed in on the disturbing photos taken by Oatway.
One distressing image depicts Mozambican national Emmanuel Sithole lying on a pavement after he was attacked by men in Joburg’s Alexandra township. A man standing next to him looks away. This poor victim’s anguish pierces through the barrier of the medium into the heart of the viewer.
We see a man, baring his teeth in a grimace, his jeans covered with splotches of blood and his right arm tucked under his head.
This is one of the few images accompanying the article that details what happened to Sithole moments before he died.
Oatway recorded his vicious attack on camera as well.
In the article, the journalists detail how they helped Sithole by rushing him to a nearby clinic and then a hospital. Sadly, he died before he could receive treatment.
While many readers have praised the photojournalist for capturing these very real and haunting images – others have lashed out at him, questioning why he didn't intervene.
Here are some of the comments doing the rounds on Twitter:
Stalked, stabbed, killed in Alexandra for being from Mozambique. RIP Emmanuel Sithole. Xenophobic South Africa I cry. pic.twitter.com/2XPRsKXfeU
— Ulrich J v Vuuren (@UlrichJvV) April 19, 2015
After being stabbed in the chest, Emmanuel Sithole from Mozambique was left on the street @ali_naka #XebophobicSA pic.twitter.com/rdPtb928xr
— Denis Nabende (@DenisNabz) April 19, 2015
That Emmanuel Sithole was murdered whilst people looked on is very sad, very sad. No-one helped him. What kind of a people are we? Sad.
— Tito Mboweni (@tito_mboweni) April 20, 2015
We need to ask questions about the class, race prejudices that make it acceptable to photograph and publish the murder of Emmanuel Sithole.
— Karyn Maughan (@karynmaughan) April 19, 2015
I wonder if the people who were photographing Emmanuel Sithole, tried to save him. Was the story more important than his life?
— iamogutudaudi (@iamogutudaudi) April 19, 2015
Take a listen to Beauregard Tromp's account of the incident below:
Listen below to photographer James Oatway recounting the attack:
Is a journalist telling us a story, depicting the world as he or she sees it, or do journalists have an obligation to cross that line from observer and story-teller to active participant? This debate’s been raging for a long time.
There are various thoughts on the matter. One is that taking the image without interference condemns the absence of human rights in the photograph and highlights human suffering. According to paulagortazar.blogspot.com, “in terms of the aesthetic representation of the photograph, what is requested in this case from the photojournalist in order to act ethically would be to show reality, as it is…to show the truth without manipulation.”
Another argument is that in some situations, a journalist should always show compassion and try to intervene.
What are your thoughts on the issue? Leave your comment in the box below.
UPDATE: Police have confirmed three suspects have been arrested in connection with the murder of Sithole.
#sapsGP #ARRESTED 3 suspects last night in Alexandra in connection with murder of #EmmanuelSithole - searching for 4th suspect SD
— SA Police Service (@SAPoliceService) April 20, 2015
(Thumbnail image via Twitter, @timeslive)