The question of ethics arises

My excursion in Alexandra township on Friday started on a positive note. My first stopping point was at an Apostolic church of Christ where my colleague, Emma, wanted to enquire about their suspected use of water from the Jukskei river. The pastor of the church was very welcoming.

Although we did not get what we wanted, the pastor assured us that he would always be available to help with whatever issue we might have in the future. The pastor is from Zimbabwe and their services are conducted in Shona. Speaking through an interpreter, the generous pastor said, “unfortunately we don’t use water from the Jukskei river.

We only use tap water. We don’t consider water from Jukskei river clean enough for religious purposes. But you are welcome to approach us again in future in the event that you need an interview on anything.” This church, like most church in South Africa, prohibits members thereof to take pictures for public use. Therefore, our efforts to get a picture with them were fruitless.

 I hold this church in high regard despite their negative response to our request. My short interaction with the pastor made me feel very closely connected to God. For a moment I felt like I was among the holiest on this earth.

While cruising through densely clustered shacks, we came across a bunch of middle-aged women who were on the queue to the communal tap for water. On seeing my camera, one of them said, “Daily Sun is here. I’m leaving. I don’t want to appear on their paper.”

We explained to them that we were just students engaged in a research project. They never believed us. They told us how they were once fooled by a Daily Sun reporter who masqueraded as a student researcher in order for him to get a picture.

“We were surprised to see our faces all over their paper the following day. So we don’t trust so-called researchers anymore,” one of them said.

The ladies refused us a picture, thanks to the unscrupulous Daily Sun reporter. The question of ethics inevitably arises from this scenario. Was the Daily Sun reporter ethically correct in what he did? I am always honest with members of the public.

 Would you advise me to adopt the Daily Sun reporter’s style of doing things for the sake of meeting my research deadlines? Would I not compromise my credibility in the process? Please help… I have not finished reading Professor Franz Kruger’s book: Black, Grey and White: Ethics in South African Journalism, so I don’t know the answer yet.