The New Age newspaper would be a breath of fresh air with balanced reporting, said President Jacob Zuma on Saturday in Durban.
“Its important what the editor of the paper was saying in which he declared the paper as a newspaper that will report [with] balance and fairness.
“We appreciate this and believe that it’s a new breath of fresh air in terms of the media because of the number of debates we have had on the way the media should report,” said Zuma speaking at the New Age Friendship gala dinner held in Durban.
Zuma was accompanied by an entourage of ministers who flew into Durban from Polokwane where the ANC held its 99th anniversary celebrations on Saturday.
Ministers attending the function were Rural Development Minister Tokyo Sexwale, Transport Minister Sbu Ndebele, Defence Minister Lindiwe Sisulu and KwaZulu-Natal Premier Zweli Mkhize.
Zuma thanked the New Age group for hosting the event on the eve of the Pro20 cricket match between South Africa and India to be held in Durban on Sunday.
‘Something new’
“I would like to thank the New Age for hosting this dinner on the eve of activities taking place tomorrow [Sunday].”
The New Age hosted the dinner to celebrate the 150 years of friendship between South Africa and India.
“The editor will show us something new. A new chapter of reporting. There are many good things that happen in this country that are not reported on,” said Zuma.
Zuma said part of the struggle against apartheid was the fight for media freedom and the ANC would continue in this fight, but as a party it would not keep quiet if things were not in order.
The ANC has decided to appoint a team to investigate the possibility of a media appeals tribunal for print media, a concept that was first discussed at its last national conference in 2007 in Polokwane. – Sapa