This blog follows the debate surrounding the state of media freedom in South Africa. It is compiled and written by Julie Reid, an academic and media analyst from the Department of Communication Science at the University of South Africa.

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

MEDIA STUDENTS MUST HAVE THEIR SAY!

The Department of Communication Science at UNISA has started this blog to collect comments from ANY South African students who are currently studying towards a career in the media industry. This blog is open to all students, not only those studying at UNISA. All of your comments are welcome!

Rhodes University recently initiated a statement of protest against the proposed Media Appeals Tribunal and the Protection of Information Bill. Numerous other journalism and media departments at other universities, including UNISA, have also signed this satement. You can read this statement by clicking on the link on the left of this page. You will find links to how this statement was reported in the media on the right of this page.

As lecturers and academics, we are greatly concerned for the future of our students: we dedicate our careers to teaching you, so that you can pursue exciting futures in the media industry. The proposed legislation and tribunal, however, cast a bleak outlook for anyone wishing to enter the media industry in South Africa, particularly as a journalist.

We would like to hear what you, our students, have to say about these issues and how you feel about your future. We encourage you to read Prof Pieter Fourie's lecture, which will give you an accurate summary of the current raging debate about the media. You will find a link to this lecture on the left of this page. You could also read Prof Fourie's essay on the Afrikaans website Litnet, and you will find this link on the right.

Once you have read these documents, PLEASE return to this page and post your own comments in the comment box below. You can also email your comments to the following address: reidjbj@unisa.ac.za

Also, please VOTE in our opinion poll: look on the left of this page.

This is your future! Have your say!

46 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  2. As a first year, first semester student in Communication Science at UNISA, I feel highly threatened by the moves the government are making towards a censored media and therefore, a censored government.

    South Africa has worked incredibly hard toward obtaining a functioning democracy and I as a young woman am proud to say that I form part of the youth - and the future - of our wonderful country. The proposed Media Appeals Tribunal and Protection of Information Bill however, makes me feel as if I should change my career path, or even worse, leave the country.

    A well functioning media provides a way for a country to grow, to learn from its mistakes and to form an opinion of their government, which in turn can be the deciding factor of which party has power in the aforementioned country. Personally, I see this as one of the main reasons the ANC wish to change our constitution and to strip us of our right to freedom of expression. They have made promises and failed to keep them, time and time again. Of course they are going to be faced with unhappy people, and a loss in support all over the country. It is not to say that the ANC have not done anything right for South Africa, because they have.

    However, they as a political party are riddled with fraud and corruption, and this often makes front page news, putting the ANC in a bad light, giving them reason in their minds to censor the media - to censor the truth from every South African.

    If this act and bill are passed, it will affect the country drastically as more skilled, informed workers will leave the country leading to greater incompetency in our economic sector. Corruption and fraud will go by unnoticed. Unemployment will increase from its already critical levels and I for one would rather give up my employment than work in a situation where nothing is heard by the public, and all I would be is a slave to the governments wishes. Propaganda would become everyday occurrence and in essence South Africa would return to a one party state.

    This is not the way for a country to be governed. As South Africans we should strive to be informed and contest this decision until the ANC is forced to bin the entire idea.

    Do not be misinformed. Do not let your freedom of expression be pulled from under you without a fight. This is our South Africa, and our future. Make it a bright one.

    ReplyDelete
  3. This Bill will not and should not be issued; it is an embarrassment to our history which also relates to a freedom struggle. This goes against the principles of democracy. The struggles are over and this is merely another challenge, especially for the journalist. Do not brainwash the new and future South African generation. Please leaders learn from the errors made in the past by former censorship by the "old" government and do not stop the New South African citizens to receive as much information as possible to be informed citizens and ambassadors for our country. Please think clearly about the long term consequences of this act...Learn from Zimbabwe as well. Remember the international press is observing. As a country we should move forward and not back to restrictions. VIVA FREEDOM OF THE PRESS VIVA! VIVA PROTECTION OF INFROMATION BILL VIVA!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I still can't get a clear understanding of why the ruling party could propose such a thing. Rewind back in the 90's during the apartheid regime, the same people (who are now in power) were crying like babies over how the goverment manipulated the media- they complained how they were deprived freedoms of expression and many other rights. Now they are in power, they are doing the same. I'm sold that the ruling party doesn't have critical thinkers, if thousands of delegates who were in Polokwane could only see this proposed Tribunal as a solution. I am disgusted and I am adding my voice to millions over the world who listened to us while we were crying during the apartheid to join us and fight these demons.Our country is now moving into what Aristotle's democracy, which he defined as: a group of individuals ruling for their own interests.

    ReplyDelete
  5. The Media tribunal scares me. As a third year student thinking of going into the journalism world this does not seem like a bright future. I do however believe that SA will not move away from its democratic ways and this includes freedom of speech and expression. I am confident that the journalists and companies fighting for it, will not allow the media to lie down. I wish the government could see that anything you try to hide will come into the light eventually. By trying to restrict the media and the coverage on the government, they are building a trap for themselves. They will eventually lie at the bottom of that trap going: "What were we thinking?"

    ReplyDelete
  6. I agree that if, and probably when, the Media Appeals Tribunal and the Protection of Information Bill are instated, it will be a sad day in the history of South Africa after Apartheid. But I don't agree that that our futures as media professionals are ruined.

    Of course I would prefer to work in an open and tolerant media environment with a healthy attitude toward debate and where a variety of opinions are given a platform. However, since when have we as members of the human race or as citizens of South Africa ever allowed legislation stop us from having opinions and expressing them?

    On the contrary, this is a challenge to us as students of media to continue along the paths that we have chosen in order to uphold the values we see fit to be expressed in society. South Africa has a history of revolutionary as well as subversive media with regards to restrictive state control of some media sources, not all. And have we not learned through our studies, that it is through media that social awareness and political change can come about.

    I think it is time that we get beyond our disappointment with the failure of the ANC as a ruling party and start to work toward other solutions, and we can start by building opinion and continuing to encourage debate by upholding the values of a socially responsible media.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hi,

    I was invited to vote on this site... It was obvious that the ANC was trying to smother bad publicity when they introduced the moratorium on reporting crimes back in around 2004/5 ... Since then the SAPS have been responsible for collating and reporting data.. this i itself is questionable because it was Thomas Edison that said "Lies Lie and Statistics!!" Apparently Interpol puts the Murder rate in SA at twice the published figure..

    Yet I digress... It is more that obvious that the ruling party were quite happy with the concept of a free press while they were scrambling for power but now that the weapon the used against the NP has been turned against them, they have the audacity to dry foul!!

    And Like the nats they now want to choose what we can and cannot read... 'The more things change the more they stay the same...' I have no idea who said this but i n this case it is so true!!

    The ruling party swoop like vultures feeding upon the wounded body of our dear fledgling democracy while ministers and cadre deployments gorge like leeches, maggots and slugs. Feeding on the carrion carcass....

    Yet what will they do when the bones are bare, bleached and left to dry in the white-hot African Sun? Will they then feed on the little people...

    Those mind-numbed uneducated masses? The true casualties of Outcomes Based Education and a policy of Liberation Now Education Later?

    The people who two decades after the release of Madiba still live in abject squalor and poverty with absolutely no hope of a brighter future and a better tomorrow...

    "Africa!! Alive with improbabilities!"

    You the Journalists, are the voice of the little people... The only hope they will ever have of building a brighter better future.

    Best Wishes,
    Michael Manolitsis

    ReplyDelete
  8. the rulling party has once again proved that the people of south africa have no say in the major decisions,in order for them to conceal their underdealings and tender maladministrations there can be only one way to deceive the public by keeping the media under 24hr surveillance control.mr president and his cabinet full of incompetent wanaBEE will run this country to the ground and hungry dogs will feast on leftovers if we dont take a stand now.

    ReplyDelete
  9. katherine de Villiers @ DUT - i think it's disgusting that journalists are getting killed and kidnapped around the world just for doing their job. the government should have nothing to do with what the media prints, especially if it's for public interest. our media has been improving since apartheid but this new proposal will revert the media industry into censorship therefore the bill should be ignored.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Thababni Dlamini @ DUT- The future of our journalists and media houses does not give a promising sight.Journalists are suppose to wright fair and real news that is not biased and influenced by the negativity and control of the people in higher places,if this continues our country will not have relations and recognition from other countries.I mean our country is behind already with a lot and the introduction of such obligations will only put us far behind and lessen our credibility.By Thababni Dlamini

    ReplyDelete
  11. I must say when I first heard about this tribunal I felt a sense of panic,disappointment & outrage.I felt as though I was wasting my time studying journalism,seeing that if the bill is passed we'll be reduced to doing tabloid stories,entertainment,development & propaganda stories.

    With media being barred,corruption will be rife and our parents as taxpayers will be in the dark as to where their money is going,there will be inefficient service delivery due to inapropriate mishandling of funds.
    Now journalists will have to scared of being arressted or fined. I think this whole media tribunal is just a way to muzzle the media and as the public we deserve to know the truth!

    Zama Nene Journalism Student@DUT

    ReplyDelete
  12. The rulling party just wants to control the media, and hide their dirty laundry from the public. yes it happens that sometimes the reporting is inaccurate, but there is no need the this tribunal, and the protection of information bill.think back to the reporting by the media of the of the arms deal, that corruption would never have seen the light of day if the protection of information bill was in existence. former police commissioner Jackie Selebi would never have been prosecuted if this bill was passed earlier. so i feel that the ANC is trying to protect its ministers who have a tendency of being corrupt.
    media practitioners will find it difficult to do their job, because i think many restrictions will be placed on them when it comes to aquiring, and publishing information.

    Terrence Zwane

    ReplyDelete
  13. Thandazile Precious Ngiba @ DUT- Personally I feel that Government is making it hard for Journalists to perform to the best of their ability because now they have to keep in mind what the government would or would not approve of. It’s not about reporting everything as it is, rather a polished “acceptable” version of the truth. What happens to freedom of expression and the media being the public’s bridge to the truth? Journalism is about cutting edge stories that everyone wants know about but just do not have the resources to and that is where we as journalists come in... So down with being told what to say and do as if we are puppets.

    ReplyDelete
  14. The issue of the media appeals tribunal and the information bill need to be revised by the ruling party. As people have different take on this issue, it will be very difficult to believe that the sentiments of the ANC are really genuine. To the certain extent , yes some media workers are very subjective in a sense that their reports are not well reserched, but still I believe that doesnot warrant a media tribunal. And on the issue of information bill, I think it’s only information that could put the safety of the country in danger that should be subject to Secret Agency and National Intelligence Agency. This proposal by ANC seemed to have alterior motives and they keep on hiding over the Freedom Charter and Polokwane resolutions. Who cares about their resolutions? To end this debate, I think we should take a cue from Kenyan government by having a referendum. When the former president of this country, Thabo Mbeki was elected the president he said: “people have spoken”. I think our government should let the people of this country speak, beacause they will be affected. The flow of information to them(people) will be affected.
    By Sandile Gumede-journalism2-@Durban University of Technology

    ReplyDelete
  15. Jounalism student at Durban's University of technology...Thabile Mbekwa
    It is appalling to think that after so many years of freedom and demaocracy in this country, once again our freedom is being compromised.Is there a point to the media when certain information is being concealed from the public because some individuals want to continue with their scandals.What is happening to freedom of the press? is South Africa turning into a minature Zimbabwe because that is exactly where our country is going!The media has done a tremendous job in exposing so much that the culprits think befor they act because they know that it will come out somehow, thanks to the media. but now certain people will do as they like because they now know that they can charge, then fine or jail a certain individual and better yet try to get that publication or company closed down! Once again our dear goverment u never seize to amaize!

    ReplyDelete
  16. I think that the ANC’s proposal undermines media freedom which has been fought for years. The ruling party simply wants to have power over the media and not be held accountable for their dealings. The ‘secrecy bill’ is an excuse for them to get away with injustice, continue with corruption & fraud which has made them lose their credibility. The media should be able to access information & be protected so that the public is aware of how these people they voted to be in high places handle their work and so they can bring injustices to light.
    Princess Dlamini @ DUT

    ReplyDelete
  17. .The rulling party just wants to control the media, and hide their dirty laundry from the public. yes it happens that sometimes the reporting is inaccurate, but there is no need the this tribunal, and the protection of information bill.think back to the reporting by the media of the of the arms deal, that corruption would never have seen the light of day if the protection of information bill was in existence. former police commissioner Jackie Selebi would never have been prosecuted if this bill was passed earlier. so i feel that the ANC is trying to protect its ministers who have a tendency of being corrupt.
    media practitioners will find it difficult to do their job, because i think many restrictions will be placed on them when it comes to aquiring, and publishing information.

    Mondli Zwane,journalism student @dut

    ReplyDelete
  18. I think the media has to admit at some point that there are some rather false and uninformed stories published every now and then to sell papers and airtime. The media should admit to this and apologize where there is need.
    The Press Ombudsman is in a poor state compared to other regulators such as the BBCSA, many a time politicians and other prominent figures have been falsely accused and lambasted in our local press, and how does our press council deal with it? The journalist gets away hands free, with just a simple apology.
    However, I am not of the opinion that a regulated media, especially by our own government, which we all know is not the most credible ever. How is giving the journalist no voice going to help our seemingly blossoming republic? How will we look in the eyes of the world if such a bill is passed, would FIFA have approved of our bid?
    Back to the point, we don’t want to be puppets to our corrupt government, we are journalists, our jobs are at stake here, perhaps the government should look into another solution, but this Media Appeals Tribunal and the Protection of Information Bill should not even be an option.

    Sihle Mlambo
    Durban Uni. of Technology Journalism II

    ReplyDelete
  19. In my opinion the bill that is being commented on will not get passed. Both the Media Tribunal and The Protection of Information bill are both unconstitutional, and in all likely-hood will not be passed because both media freedom and freedom of expression are protected by the constitution.

    South Africa as a country has probably one of the most free media's in the continent. Countries in the region of West Africa with the exception of maybe Ghana are so tightly controlled that they are basically government mouthpieces. Countries in the SADC region are even worse a perfect example is Zimbabwe.

    Though I am opposed to both the act and the tribunal. I do believe that there does needs to be closer look into the media in this country. You have the South African Broadcast Corporation(SABC) has become in many people's opinion far too relaxed on the government and especially the African National Congress(ANC). The SABC which is constantly in disarray with both financial and board troubles can no longer reconsidered a strong voice of the people.

    In its own way eTV has been seen to report on anything against the state. This has led to a degree of substandard reporting. The Sunday Times is in a similar boat.

    Basically I am against the Tribunal and The bill.

    Mitchell Harper. Second Year Journalism DUT

    ReplyDelete
  20. Sithokozile Ngema @DUT Journalism- to say that the media is the eyes and the voice of the nation would be a lie or rather cold comfort for SA dwellers who are often in the dark when it comes to the government's shenanigans. with journos still being thrown in jail or kidnapped to hush them, media freedom is far from existent.some cases like that of mzilikazi wa afrika and lucky sindane are even more chilling. the freedom of expression institute's attempts at weedling more liberation for journalists out of the government are sand in the wind for as long as the ruling party has the last word. in zulu: kunhlanga zimuka nomoya.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Nontuthuko
    Hi
    The proposed media appeals tribunal is actual very de motivating to us young and expiring journalists. It makes our lives very difficult to know that there is a possibility that our careers could mean imprisonment and certain restriction in the near future. This fear that is injected with in the industry makes it hard to carry our work appropriately and with dignity as the government keep on criticizing the media which makes it look unaccountable to the public it serves .It is uncertain why the ANC have even suggested such a law because It clearly going against our constitution that allows us freedom of speech. If there is any restriction to the way the media operate than it not completely free. It must also be noted that a democratic country is known by the free media with in that country. It a totally bad idea!

    ReplyDelete
  22. The passing of this bill will be the death of South African media freedom, thus the people of South Africa not being protected from the government.South African citizens as tax payers have every right to know what is going on in their government and the media plays a major role in informing them.So if the media is censored by the government then what is the point of the media? The government should have no say or what so ever in the media.
    As an journalism student I am disheartened by this, it makes me wonder what the future holds for us?

    ReplyDelete
  23. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  24. MINENHLE@-South Africa is falling back to the past.The ruling party that spearheaded the fight again'st apartheid laws is trying to implement them again.Yes the media should be held accountable and responsible for their mistakes but the protection of information bill and media appeals tribunal are EXTREME ways of "regulating" the media. Independantly appointed bodies such as Sanef have done a good job of being watchdogs to journalist and media houses that are out of line.As an upcoming journalist and a citizen I am opposing the bill and media tribunal.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Emmanuel Pheta
    The proposed media tribunal and the protection of information bill should be rejected because it is aimed at crippling the freedom of expression. Those who proposed the bill argued that, this will stop unjust reporting by all media and ensure that, they are brought before justice for manipulating stories. The Government is using the same tactic that was used by the apartheid régime. Most journalists might find themselves in jail in the near future if the bill is constituted in the parliament.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Being a journalism student and pursuing a career in media, I feel the proposed Media Appeals Tribunal is a vital step backward for South Africa. There were so many lives lost in the struggle for democracy in our country. Democracy does not consist of media with major influences. Media is free from influences and is unbiased. Why should the government have control over what is broadcasted or published in the media? It is our duty as journalists to report on and reveal the truth about everyone in our country. No one is above the law. How are we supposed to produce fair, unbiased and objective work if the government decides what can and cannot be published? I think the government knows the power the media has after all of the scandals and underhand activities have been revealed. This is why they would rather use the media to their advantage instead of having the media work against them by revealing the truth. The media is not unsupervised since we do have respective bodies in place to take care of complaints and incorrect or untruthful reporting for example: the Press Ombudsman and the BCCSA to name a few. If these proposals become our reality, it would be pointless being a journalist. The very reason I want to be a journalist is to reveal the truth and see that justice is served in our country. Having a Media Appeals Tribunal will defeat my purpose of being a journalist. By Karusha Chetty 2nd year journalism student @ The Durban University of Technology.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Nqobizizwe Zwane
    Durban Universty of Technology

    The proposed media tribunal should be rejected by all means. The public has a right to know what their government is doing for them and not doing for them. Giving government the power to censor some information in the name of national interest will hind our democracy. The media has a duty to report to the public about what their government is doing and to hold those in power accountable and part of their responsibility is to expose any irregularities by government officials. Our media isn’t perfect but it can be corrected by the Press Ombudsman, BCCSA and other body regulators. Power should never be allowed to consume the dream of a free democratic South Africa where everyone has a constitutional right to freedom of speech. Any country that wishes to make progress in the right direction should try by all means to produce media that questions government even about sensitive issues and the proposed media tribunal is part of creating an uncertain future for all of us.

    ReplyDelete
  28. It's the case of the ruling party wanting to take charge of the distribution of information to the public. The Media Tribunal will put media freedom under threat and one could say that it is a way of intimidating journalists from publishing stories that will expose corrupt people in "high places". The ruling party (ANC) back in the 80's fought for the freedom of expression but now the very people are going against what they fought for... What is it that they are hiding*thinking*
    Thina Mthembu DUT JOURNALISM

    ReplyDelete
  29. I feel that the government wants to hide their dirt by having control of the media. They don't want us as journalists to expose them. They feel threatened they would lose votes thus resulting in the leaders losing their jobs and income.
    The media can get it hopelessly wrong but that is on the point. For every time they get it wrong there are many times they get it right especially when they expose government and private misdemeanors.
    Recently we witnessed a heavy arrest of Sunday Times journalist, Mzilikazi wa Africa. This was after he wrote an article on police chief General Bheki Cele’s irregular R500m contract. Fanelesibonge Bengu 2nd-year journalism student @DUT

    ReplyDelete
  30. Mazwi- Dep of Journalism @ DUT.
    A fully functional fourth estate is prescribed within the confines of a democracy. The misuse or undermining of the aforementioned cannot help any society. There is evidence throughout history that a society that does not respect the need for freedom of the press and expression will not prosper. South Africa is a young and progressive democracy, we cannot allow our hard fought successes to falter at the hands of narrow prepositions. As much as the media needs robust debate on certain issues which are raised by the ANC, the way the ruling party is going about it, is not beneficial to our citizenry. The effects of such a stance will not only harm this generation but will so for many more to come. Therefore having members intimidate and retort that it is already done goes against our cultural fibre.I think we need to stretch the capacity of the Press Ombudsman this will not only “aid” aggrieved politicians, but will help ordinary South Africans, who are the real imperative.

    ReplyDelete
  31. NPZ@DUT
    I feel that the ANC is overreactiong by proposing the establishment of a media tribunal. It also seems as though they are forcing the issue and that they've already made a decision about establishing it before discussing or getting stakeholder's(eg.media students, media houses, oppossing parties and the public)views on the matter. I do agree that it is unfair when people are falsely reported upon but a media tribunal will only hinder the growth of South African media.

    ReplyDelete
  32. SUPER MARIO says....

    So much corruption in the country it’s not shocking anymore. We just ask ourselves when the next scandal from our so called leaders is. Now our media is also being compromised, as Journalism students it is so hard to witness our Government making life so difficult for our media so they can hide their secrets from the public. Mzilikazi Wa Afrika was made a perfect example off by the ruling party and was accused of fraud in relation to a document purporting to be a letter of resignation by Mpumalanga Premier David Mabuza. A month later, charges a dropped. Feel the power of the ANC!!!!

    SUPER MARIO STUDENT OF DUT @ 20817366

    ReplyDelete
  33. This proposed bill might be a way to keep the media quiet about the corruption and nepotism in the ruling party. Ive heard what everybody on this blog is saying but it could be in the interest of national security. We all know that the Anc has alot of skeletons in their closet from the days of the apartheid South Africa. Some of these closely guarded secrets the citizen of country shouldnt know about in order to maintain the status quo. This bill was proposed after the emergence of websites like wikileaks. Websites like wikileaks are major threats to national security. In some ways this bill could be beneficial to the state or it could totally destroy the democracy we fought for.

    Mbuso Mkhize
    Durban Univ of Tech Journalism II

    ReplyDelete
  34. Freedom of expression is recognized as a human right under Universal Declaration of Human Rights and our government is depriving us from exercising that right. Personally I think our government is trying to get rid of investigative journalism just to hide the corruption that's taking place within the government structures.


    Senzo Mkhize
    Durban University of Technology- Journalism Department
    20926218

    ReplyDelete
  35. Noloyiso Mbalane @ DUT

    im on the verge of graduating and being told that there are certain things i can and cannot report on is discouraging. why is it so easy for the ruling power to propose the very same nonsense they fought against during the apartheid era? yes there should be certain boundaries that journalist shouldnt tread on but if it is in the interest of the public why should'nt we if we have the facts and documentaion to prove it?

    ReplyDelete
  36. Steve Bhengu - DUT University.

    We have all heard about this proposed move by the ruling party to control what the media says. Personally I don't think it is right. Media freedom should be exactly that – FREEDOM to say what is happening as it happens with no limits. The media's role, amongst other things is to be objective and report on the truth as it is, pretty or ugly, and by the ANC putting restrictions aimed at gagging the journalists they are trying to stop the ugly. We all know no party or politician is clean and there tends to be a loss of support, confidence and votes if dirty laundry is aired - in that case the ANC has a lot to lose if more dirty work of corruption came out in the open for everyone to see. What an ugly sight!!

    ReplyDelete
  37. The most pivotal part of any demovracy is media freedom, and it is the quest for media freedom in South Africa that has led the nation from the dark era of apartheid to the progressive democratic country it is developing into today. For the past decade and a half we, the citizens have had a love-hate relationship with our tumultous ruling party
    and most recently we have come face to face with the true identity of the ANC and it's government: a self serving authority that cleverly fools the rest of society into beleiving our own false sense of freedom. Our only voice against propaganda and exploitaion under the hand of a two-faced government has been our growing freedom of expression independance of the media. The government and the ruling party have shown us time and again that their first priority will always be their interests and then to a far lesser extent, our own. Just looking at the amount of our tax funds is spent on arms deals and ministerial/presidential luxuries compared to what is spent on our suffering education system is a clear indication of where we stand with our government.Then, without a scrap of sense of irony, this very government that the media has been exposing recently of being corrupt and untrustworthy is saying that it is us, the media, who cannot be trusted to do our jobs. I see a clear connection between the ANC trying to gain control of the mines and therefore, our economy and this most recent attempt at muzzling the media. Hitler, anyone? If we let this illogical proposal of a Media Appeals Tribunal(that doesnt deserve capital letters at all) to be part of our legislation, we might as well burn our democratic constitution to the ground. This 'tribunal'(read: Gobstopper) will catapult us straight to the dark ages faster than we can say 'Communism'. We might as well change the term 'journalist' to 'government mouthpiece'. This is exactly the point where we need to stop fooling ourselves into beleiving we can ever trust the current government and fight! Young journalists, this is our revolution.
    Signed, a mad black journalist
    Simnikiwe Hlatshaneni Durban University of Technology

    ReplyDelete
  38. Im afraid this is a symbol of reversing back to the apartheid time,and it is because the ANC wants to continue peforming dirt and hide it to the public.How as Journalists are we going to exercise the freedom of expression? Is this where the future of Journalism is going?
    Philiswa Mbanjwa@DUT

    ReplyDelete
  39. our gorvernment try so hard to be different from Zimbabwe,but i think we slowly and surely are heading that way.The ruling party is becoming a dectactor and theres nothing the public can do,the only thing that was standing in their way of doing what they want,when they want,however they want was the media and in order for them to get full control is get rid of it(the media).
    the media is thee voice and the eye of the public and this media tribunal is threating media freedom and they want to turn journalists to gorvernments puppets
    the media tribunal is held against the print media and the A.N.C always complains against how E-TV works but never against the S.A.B.C simply because they literally own the public broadcaster.
    journalist are killed,imprisoned,kidnapped the gorvernment should be looking for ways to proctect the media from this instead of of working agaist it
    thulile maphanga 2nd year journalism@DUT

    ReplyDelete
  40. As the aspiring journalist and South African citizen I totally oppose the protection of information act and the media tribunal, I mean we already have independent bodies like the BBCSA and the press ombudsman to deal with the media when they are at fault. I see no need for this ridiculous tribunal, if these laws succeed then the South African's can kiss goodbye hardcore journalism because all they are going to get from papers and TV is cheap tabloid and gossip.

    ReplyDelete
  41. Thabile Nokwazi Nxumalo
    2ND Year DUT Journalism Student

    I personally think that the passing of the bill is wrong in so many different levels. South Africa is regarded as a " Democratic Country" for 16 years now, and for journalist living in a democratic country not to be allowed to express their views, thoughts and concerns is not fair. When Mandela and other freedom fifghter fought for freedom, they fought for rights of every citizens in South Africans. Passing of the bill wiil only destroy what South Africa has built over the years I don't think anything will come of it.

    ReplyDelete
  42. NONJABULO MADE @DUT-I think that the bill poses as a challenge to the freedom of the press ,given that the ruling party has alot to do with the bad publcity.One would think that they are imposing this protection of information bill to cover their dirty tricks and bad tendencies.What happend to the the right to a freedom of expression,if everything is sugar coated then is it really news worthy,one is entitled to non biased and fairplay stories but that will change if the ANC gets their way.

    ReplyDelete
  43. The ANC must be forgeting that being a ruling Party does not mean you must forget about the constitutional measures that must be followed on trying to alter the current statutes. The media have its regulatory bodies as to avoid any minority or majority groups tampering with it. It is therefore the principal duty of the media to represent the concept of fair and ligetimate practice by the government not the ruling party. Furthermore the media's rights are enshrined in the constitution and even the ANC must abide to those rights. It is very foolish of the ANC to try and change certain parts of the constitution to cover up thier improper practice. " wa Africa revealed some of those and that is why the lease is being investigated". The ANC is just tring to fool the public so that only what they think is praising thier ideology will be revealed.

    ReplyDelete
  44. The madness should stop now.
    This so called bill threatens the existence of the media. Look at AIPPA and POSA in Zim next door then you will see that the media needs to regulate themselves and not the gvts poking their nose in that business.

    If we say the media is the watchdog of the state or fourth estate should i say then why deny the media and journalists to do their job freely.

    I have never heard of anyone who has won the war against the media before. In-fact the media should be protect from abuse and the risk of being extinct.

    ReplyDelete
  45. Anusha Chetty @ DUT - Honestly as a second year journalism student I feel ripped off. I mean it feels like I've been studying this course for sweet nothing. The whole point of being a journalist is so that we as journalists' educate the people and the community less knowing than ourselves, and to think that there is a possibility that we are going to be censored and that we have to watch everything that we say in the future is scary. I feel like the government is honestly trying to save themselves the shame and the disgrace, reason being is that certain members are almost always getting into trouble and doing something wrong, this is just their way of hiding the truth from us!

    Anusha Chetty @ Durban University of Technology
    Secong Year

    ReplyDelete
  46. A piece of advice to the ruling party is: Do not be stubborn and force the implementation of the Media Appeals Tribunal and The Protection of the Information Bill against the will of the citizens of the country. The government or ANC is not better than a South African citizen. A citizen is better than the government. It's a pity to have leaders practising dictatorship in a democratic country and acting very selfish and brutal by killing the press freedom. Whether they massage the proposal of the Bill or not, freedom of the press is demolished.

    Why therefore can't the government look for the measures to curb the sloppiness that certain journalists seem to have, than to hamper the whole press freedom? The Press may not be 100% correct, just like the government may not be saints and be 100% correct. Why is the media killed like this?

    The South Africans cry and long for better lives. May it (government) have again the tribunal on CRIME, CORRUPTION and JOB CREATION, as it was discussed in UKZN two months ago!

    I am disappointed at these power hungry so-called-leaders! South Africa is a shame!

    ALUTA CONTINUA!

    Mopheme Lesotho, University of Zululand, Communication Science Department

    ReplyDelete