The government has no intention of infringing on media freedom through the draft Films and Publications Amendment Bill, Government Communication and Information System head Themba Maseko said on Thursday.
The Bill was approved by the Cabinet at its fortnightly meeting at Tuynhuys on Wednesday.
Briefing the media at Parliament, Maseko said the Cabinet noted the reservations raised in the media about the deletion of the clause that exempts sections of the media from the ambit of the old Act.
”We would like to reiterate that the government has no intention whatsoever to muzzle the media in any way, and that this position will not change,” he said.
However, the Cabinet took the view that the Bill should be published in its current form and that public discourse be allowed before it is promulgated.
The Bill is aimed at preventing the publication and distribution of child pornography, Maseko emphasised.
Journalist organisations have argued that the media would, in terms of the current wording of the Bill, be required to refer articles to a film and publications board before broadcasting or printing.
The relevant government departments were directed by the Cabinet to engage with the South African National Editors’ Forum (Sanef) and other parties to discuss their concerns about the Bill.
”We would like to give the assurance that all views will be considered before the Bill is passed,” Maseko said.
Child pornography is outlawed in South Africa but can often be accessed over the internet. Police have recently warned that children are increasingly circulating sexually explicit images of themselves on cellphones.
Media experts said they were puzzled at how media censorship would help fight child pornography.
”We know of no case involving the mainstream media, print or broadcasting, brought before the courts or the press ombudsman involving child pornography,” said Raymond Louw, spokesperson for Sanef.
”That’s one of the reasons we can’t understand why the Home Affairs Department has chosen this form of censorship to deal with a non-existent problem in the media,” he said.
The move to put the proposal to public debate before it is passed was welcomed by Sanef, the South African chapter of the Media Institute of Southern Africa and the Freedom of Expression Institute.
The Bill ”is unacceptable and is highly damaging to South Africa’s reputation as a country that upholds freedom of expression and freedom of the media”, the three organisations said in a joint statement. — Sapa, I-Net Bridge, AFP