The African National Congress (ANC) parliamentary caucus has expressed concern over the South African National Editors’ Forum (Sanef) stance in the saga between the Sunday Times and Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang.
”We are concerned at the endorsement of the newspaper’s crusade against the health minister by the country’s forum of media leaders, as it sets worrying precedent,” the caucus said in a statement on Tuesday.
”Essentially, the precedent that is set is that on the whims of this press principle, members of the public surrender all their rights to the mighty media.”
The ANC caucus said media freedom was a central component of a democratic society and should be defended against those who sought to abuse it in pursuit of an agenda against individual members of the public.
The statement added that the public should be worried about the approach the Sunday Times took to reporting on Tshabalala-Msimang, which involved acquiring medical records from a hospital at which she was treated.
”It suggests that under the guise of ‘public interest’, the media can unlawfully acquire confidential personal data such as patients’ medical record, and publish them for all to see without their consent,” it read.
”This is despite the stipulation by the National Health Act [2003] that all information concerning a user, including information relating to his or her health status, treatment or stay in a health establishment, is confidential and no person may disclose any such information unless a consent is granted.”
The ANC caucus added that it supported further bilateral engagements between the ruling party and Sanef in an effort to find one another on such critical matters.
Sanef said it respected the individual’s right to privacy, except where it conflicted clearly with public interest.
”The revelations concerning the minister of health fall clearly in the domain of public interest,” read a statement.
”However, in this particular instance, there are legal processes under way and calls being made for a more structured investigation by the government into the veracity of the allegations.”
The group of editors said they hoped that the minister would take the challenge to prove the reports right or wrong.
”At the same time, Sanef respects the right of the minister, in this instance, to take up any concerns with the editor of the publication concerned.
”If she is not happy with the outcome, she could approach the office of the press ombudsman.” — Sapa