Two key media figures are at each other’s throats prior to the truth commission’s probe into the press, writes Jacquie Golding-Duffy
The Freedom of Expression Institute and its chair, Raymond Louw, have come under fire for volunteering to assist the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) in its investigation of the media.
The Black Editors Forum (BEF), while welcoming an investigation in to the media by the TRC, criticised the process involving the Freedom of Expression Institute.
In its statement the BEF says an intermediary such as the institute is unnecessary and would only “serve to sanitise and distort” evidence.
BEF and South African National Editors’ Forum chair and Enterprise magazine editor- in-chief Thami Mazwai said this week that it was “inappropriate” for Louw or his organisation to oversee the investigation, just as it would be unfavourable for former or current black journalists and their organisations to volunteer to co-ordinate such an important process.
“Some of the people at the Freedom of Expression Institute were active in the English press during the apartheid years and at no stage did they actively oppose apartheid, which makes them accessories to the various crimes committed.
“To have some of these people heading an investigation where we want other collaborators to come forward and confess their role is ludicrous.
”Journalists cannot conduct preliminary investigations into themselves as this flies in the face of justice, democracy and pure logic. The TRC has got the skills and the manpower to do the job without an intermediary body.”
Mazwai says he finds it “ridiculous” that the institute is raising funds and claiming to be helping the TRC gather information on the media. “When an investigation as important as this is given to an organisation with no finances then the TRC is certainly not taking this seriously.”
The BEF in its statement also says a minor industry could be spawned if intermediary bodies are allowed to go around and ask for donations under the guise of the TRC.
“This is absolute rubbish. There is no industry that will be spawned from this,” countered Louw.
Louw challenged Mazwai, accusing him of possibly wanting to delay the probe into the media. ”Why is he [Mazwai] delaying it? Is he trying to prevent an inquiry from taking place?”
While Louw accused Mazwai of delaying tactics, the latter attacked Louw’s involvement as “smacking of a jobs-for-pals scenario” which could discredit the attempt to scrutinise the media.
Louw countered that this was “outrageous and not worthy of comment”.
“Why does he [Mazwai] keep harping on the same tired old theme when we have tried to explain to him that our role is no different from being employed by the TRC to investigate the medical or judicial systems. We are merely co-ordinating the investigation and will not be directly involved.
”We will be employing researchers to do most of the work with some Freedom of Expression Institute executive members involved.”
The board members, pointed out Louw, were a diverse group with several experienced black and white media commentators on board, including one BEF member.
Louw argues that an “unfortunate impression” would have been created had the TRC,with its state employees, done its own investigation as this would have been construed as the state intervening in the media.
“That is why the TRC decided it will be appropriate to have an independent body such as ours conduct a preliminary investigation. “
TRC deputy chair Dr Alex Boraine says the TRC was “grateful” when the offer was made by the institute because of the huge amount of work it already has. However, Boraine says the commission will be reconsidering the whole matter at the next human rights violations meeting, to be held on January 23, as a result of the BEF’s official objections.
“Having received objections came as a complete surprise and our main concern is that there should be no one group that prevents other voices from being heard.”
The suggestion that a special week-long hearing be held on the role of the media was proposed by journalist, Human Rights Committee member and truth commission employee Hugh Lewin.
The proposal hopes to highlight the possible role the media played in creating and sustaining a climate where gross human violations occurred between 1960 and 1993.
A former political prisoner, Lewin approached the institute to make a recommendation on the appropriateness of the TRC holding hearings at which the role of the media would be scrutinised. Following on this, the TRC suggested ways in which an investigation could be done and the areas that should be focused on.
Mazwai, however, argues that the selection process for the TRC took more than six months as government wanted to ensure a selection of people which would contribute towards reconciliation while the institute’s involvement did not undergo any selection process, stirring possible division.