Tokyo Sexwale, PWV premier, replies to criticism of his attack on the press
YOU strike a journalist, you strike a rock. Journalists are understandably touchy about their freedom to express themselves. Politicians, too, are touchy about attempts at character assassination and dissemination of disinformation.
Lets put a few things on record:
* A democratic media is an institution within a democratic society. It should serve to enhance democracy and proper ethics; it should function as the conscience of society
* As a member of the ANC and ANC chairperson in the PWV, I abide by and defend all the movements policies and decisions on media freedom
* The ANC has fought harder than any other political party in this countrys history for the right of journalists to express their views without hindrance
* The ANC has always believed that media freedom is a cornerstone of democracy. Consequently, in the Bill of Rights chapter of the Interim Constitution, the ANC committed itself to ensuring that every individual should have the right to freedom of speech and expression, which includes freedom of the media
* Our own reconstruction and development programme asserts that open debate and transparency in government and society are crucial elements of reconstruction and development
* We believe the media — like government, labour, business and other players — has a vital role to play in ensuring the success of the RDP; in other words, in ensuring a better quality of life for all South Africans
* We also fully endorse the sentiments expressed by President Mandela this week, when he stressed that we do not expect or want a media which is uncritical or given to praise-singing. As he said: We know too well from our past experience that robust and honest exchange of opinion and criticism are necessary to be truly democratic and for any government to stay on course
* Finally, we believe that the right to reply is a vital element of freedom of expression
Only when you offer the right to reply as a principle will you be able to talk about freedom of expression — and freedom of the press.
Because true freedom of expression, and true freedom of the press, must forever shine!
If the media is to reflect the diverse views of our society, the question of media ownership — and access to the media — must be addressed as a matter of urgency.
What this also means is that the media must vigorously criticise one another too — no hanky- panky or false camaraderie to cover one anothers backs. Let the debate be open. It must analyse its own actions, its own attitudes, just as vigorously as it critiques the actions and attitudes of politicians. After all, no one is beyond reproach.
At the heart of the current debate is the fact that a tiny, wealthy liberal movement continues to control and manipulate some of the largest public voices in the country.
They use their resources to advocate a liberal agenda. And, unfortunately, what this results in is a situation where these newspapers are often unable to reflect the cultural diversity, views and aspirations of the majority of our people — despite the valiant efforts of individual journalists on those newspapers.
Something has to be done!
A couple of other points:
* We do not believe harsh criticism of a particular editor or journalist constitutes an attack on the media. It is in direct response to the way that editor or journalist covers a particular issue — in a distorted manner, aimed at disinforming society
* No one is beyond reproach. No editor or journalist can ever hide behind the rock of press freedom and think that rock is holy. No one should distort the truth in the name of press freedom
In conclusion: we realise that taking criticism is all part of our job. Entering politics is, in itself, extending an open invitation to the world to criticise, lambaste, lampoon and scrutinise every single aspect of ones life — we welcome this. But the same goes for other public jobs — editors and journalists.
But cowboys dont cry. And good editors have thick skins, not egg membranes. When one is in a leadership position such as we are, we expect to come under the media spotlight.
But theres a line of honesty to be drawn — and when someone crosses that line, as we think some journalists have done in the past few weeks, we believe we have the right to hit back. Not because we are politicians. Not because we are members of the ANC or any other party. Not because we are premiers, or hold any other position — but because we are ordinary citizens, entitled to our constitutional rights, for which we have fought long and hard.
So no one should be surprised when ordinary citizens get tired of having their name tarnished, or the truth about their activities distorted.
But when he or she does, remember one thing: we are not in the business of arresting, banning or hanging journalists. We just believe we should expose those who distort the truth or try to mislead society.
Let us equally highlight all freedoms in our Bill of Rights, and not only those that favour us.