The governing African National Congress has proposed a
tribunal that could discipline journalists. The party, which has an
overwhelming majority in parliament, also put forth legislation under which
reporters could be jailed for publishing information that officials want kept
secret.
The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse, Bloomberg and
Reuters told President Jacob Zuma in a letter sent last week they are concerned
that the proposals "could restrict our work and the work of other
journalists."
"The media in South Africa and foreign reporters
working in the country told the world about the horrors of apartheid, despite
intimidation, attempts at censorship and attacks by the white-led
government," the agencies said in the letter, which also was sent to
Security Minister Siyabonga Cwele.
"In lodging our concerns more than a decade and a half
after apartheid ended, we add our voices to those defending press freedom and
freedom of expression in South Africa and worldwide." The president's
office did not respond to requests for comment on the letter.
Zuma, when asked about the media tribunal in parliament
Wednesday, stressed it was merely a proposal, one made with "the view that
the right to freedom of expression should not be elevated above other equally
important rights such as the right to privacy and more important rights and
values, such as human dignity." Many South Africans have protested the
proposals, from unions who say they could undermine the fight against
corruption to business leaders who say foreign investors could be scared off if
they thought the government was trying to hide wrongdoing. South African
journalists, religious and legal groups also have spoken out against it.
Some influential ANC leaders have said the media tribunal is
merely being debated and is not necessarily party policy. But its proposal
reflects tensions between the party in power since apartheid ended in 1994 and
journalists who have disclosed corruption in high places — and been accused of
sloppy or biased reporting.
The Cabinet discussed the issue at its meeting last week,
and stressed in a statement afterward that the bill "is yet to be
finalized." The Cabinet said the country's security minister "has
been focusing on areas which may be broad and/or vague and which have the
potential to infringe on other rights that are enshrined in the
constitution." It did not say when Cwele would weigh in on the bill or
when parliament might vote on it.
Zuma, in a weekend interview with a South African newspaper,
said the bill is being refined.
"I am sure the debate is helping," Zuma told the
Sunday Times.
He also told the Times that the media tribunal had been
proposed out of a desire to rein in sensationalist reporting and ensure that
when reports were incorrect or unfair, corrections were given prominence.
He said the ANC wants the media to propose ways to address
those issues.
Addressing journalists, he said: "I think you should
accept that where there is freedom there must be responsibilities as
well." The France-based AFP, US-based AP and Bloomberg and British-based
Reuters are among the world's largest news agencies, with reporters and clients
around the world.
