I do believe that the media is not yet free in south africa as long as it still gets regulated and censored by the government;the watchdog function of many journalists in our country has been crippled by the way govenrment controls us!

I do not think the media in SA is under any serious threat. There should be boundaries and insisting that the media go beyond those only violates the right to privacy. Sensation gets first page but on discovery of false reporting the apology is tucked away on the fourth page in less than three sentences. It's not fair if we let the media influence our opinions,thoughts and judgements. Their duty is to report on events good or bad, not pass judgement to sensationalize the story. We can not allow them to be the judiciary system of the country. It seems the only good stories are of scandals and personally I think there is more to South Africa than corrupt politicians.

Wake up, bambi. Until the corruption and total absence of accountablity among politicians in Africa stops, there is ZERO hope for this country or this continent. Politicians are public SERVANTS. They work for you and me. They are workers. We pay them. They are not untouchable celebrities or the new royalty. In feudalism the head honchos could rape and pillage as they pleased and no-one could do a thing about it. Then there were revolutions (remember?) and liberations (remember?). So now we have (haha) this other thing called democracy, of which one of the main rules is that we, the people (and the media) have to keep our SERVANTS in their places. The media MUST shine its torch on these matters so that we, the people can do something about it. If not the media, who the hell will...? D'you get it yet?

We are well on our way to becoming a another Zim -- no freedom any sort, let alone freedom of speech. Politians are indeed Public Servents who are answerable to the people who pay their salaries. Their lives are up for public scrutiny at all times and integrity should be of the utmost importance to them at all times. For some reason they think that they are above the law and should be treated as if they are royalty. Crack-down on Media Freedom is sad and scary. Yet another tactic to silence any sort of bad publicity or criticism. I guess that's the way of this sad continent.

judging from the scandals that are published from day to day, i think the media is being used by those who are in power in a bad way. i am not saying the dirt must be kept a secret but if certain people are going to be exposed all the parties must be exposed. the media is not for politicians to show case their dirty laundry and name and shame each other. it should be used to inform, a way of communication between the ordinary people and those who are in power..

The media in SA has been taking many things for granted like the free reign they have been having these last years.l think they deserve what they are going to get as they have not been able to self regulate themselves effectively

it is troubling that some believe that media restriction is justified. the South African constitution guarantees press freedom but the governments proposed media restriction strategy is to contravene this idea. Are we now to change the country's constitution to suite ANC officials who continually get caught with their pants down?

The recent events, incidents and times have helped to trigger debates on media, its ownership, its role, its freedom (and the list goes on and on!). These debates will be robust and sometimes fiery as they are anchored on our various past experiences and future hopes. Nothing justifies anyone to conclusively say media freedom is under threat....that will be jumping the gun.

This denialism is staggering.
The SABC takes it upon itself to defend ministers and accuse journalists of having "western' values (is that western democratic values??) and not respecting the government and Manto enough. Every right thinking journalist should be demanding that Manto either contradict the M&G and Sunday Times reports or resign. The government packs the SABC board with it’s sycophantic yes-men
Then the SABC goes against the Freedom of Expression institute and withhold the findings of a public enquiry into their censorship of objective reporters.
The government threatens to withhold its advertising from critical newspapers - so threatens editorial policy. We know that companies do this - but those companies are not our elected representatives.
This government is turning away from its citizens - its ongoing support of corrupt politicians is proof of this.
The quicker they silence the press - the easier it will be for them to continue to plunder our land.
Journalist perfrom a public good - they expose the actions of those who exploit us - we need them to be able to speak openly. If you don't like what's being said in the news - buy a different paper/change the channel - listen to a different journalist. That is your right - isn't that great.

It is quite apparent that media freedom is a never-ending dream in South Africa looking at media corporation there is a lot of corporate scandals ranging from fraud,corruption you name them.This behaviour filters down to employees and the whole organisation therefore the whle fraternity gets caught up scandals and Espionage.In same route the public is bieng fed with bullish stories talk about "window dressing".The media clearly is a puppet on strings in our country

'nuff sed.

South Africa is like Zimbabwe the only difference we still have have food and Petrol.

REMEMBER WHEN KIDS SANG THIS SONG.WELL HOW TRUE? WHEN THE MEDIA PUBLISHES "TRUTH" ABOUT ANYONE IN THE UPPER ECHELEONS OF POWER EDITORS AND JOURNALIST ARE THREATENED WITH ARREST AND IMPRISONMENT.WHAT HAPPENED TO " IN THE INTEREST OF THE PUBLIC AND FREEDOM OF SPEECH".HELP SOMEONE STOLE OUR CONSTITUTION

There are 2 types of people in this country-
Those who cannot think for themselves and are influenced by the media - and those who take information and can still have their opinions.

A large majority of people in this country are sadly and grossly influenced by the media, a sad reality is that people cannot use their own gray matter to form their own opinions.
You cannot take everything that is said by the media and swear on it! There are always two sides to a story and unfortunately - SA media, always uses media platforms to voice their own opinions and thoughts.

The reality of the matter is- media owners of print media- are blatantly painting such a negative picture of this country and rejoice in any defaming myths/story/fact - of this countries leaders. They are always highlighting the bad and like someone said - if there was an error, and an apology has to be given. It will be minute and invisible to the human eye.

SA media, is under no threat!

And for those, who think this country is like Zimbabwe- i suggest you keep very quiet and still - if u dont have anything sensible to say. You dont have a clue as to what, those people are experiencing right now.

Newspapers carry the news - they rely on newsmakers - so if its politicians stuffing up - then you can't blame the papers. (If good news sold newspapers - the papers will sell good news (that's capitalism)).

I take it from your email that journalists are not allowed to use the following in categories of information "and rejoice in any defaming myths/story/fact ".


The fact that you regard fact and myth in the same category indicates is concerning. Nobody should want "myths" in "news" stories - but surely you don't want "facts" suppressed. Or are you getting confused with all the anti-free-press propoganda going around

Lastly - if all we are hearing is bad news - then we should be afraid - and not silent and still. To say that things are different in Zim - clearly they are - but the similarities where Bob has banned independant newspapers which critisised him - well that started with simple pressure on the press, slowly the screws were tightened.

Of great concern is the similarity in the tone, in SA, politicians critisize "western style' journalism - in Zim, it was termed "Blair backed journalists". This is the emptiest insult I've ever heard - what does Western Style journalism mean. If politicians are pathetic - they must be exposed - what 'resect' must they be shown, articualrly when they refuse to respond to questions from thier electorate.

Come on - use your intelligence. The only way we can keep politicians honest is by forcing them to answer for what they have done - the second we give them absolute power, we will watch it corrupt them.

The ufortunate reality is that South Africa has the highest rape and assault record in the world, we came second to colombia for the highest murder rate. These are facts that can be played down or up by the media or the politicians.It is a reality. People are being murdered and raped even as we sit here debating the topic.Furthermore these facts may not be 100% correct. However,if YOU live here in South Afica then you WILL know that we have a problem. Innocent children, the future of this country, are being subjected to radical levels of violence and death. Not to mention the amazing job our health minister does..........I could go on and on and on....The media must speak up, yes the public needs to be more selective, yes the media needs to be more responsible. However i feel that your comment that the media is painting a negative picture is amazing....its the people who run this country that are painting a negative picture by not doing what we pay them to do and for what millions of South Africans fought for.Living in a one party state doesnt do much for democracy either......... how is it possible for the president to bypass the separation of powers essential to any modern democracy. Wait a minute....thats negative!!

with so much of our government officials acting in a form of dictatership by not allowing to questioned let alone to be criticized it saddens me an its a scarry thot for our demecracy. we cant allow officials to make stupid childish statements by mr who should be called honourable Pahad its sad and scarry.....

For the person who posed this question and for those who believe that the media is under threat, i'd like to ask one question, 'What event/s that occurred that seemed to suggest that our media is under threat'?

For all those who were about to say the Sunday Times\Manto saga - I give up on my fellow South African's objectivity when it comes to reported news.

Jacob Zuma is the only person who has come close to threatening Media Freedom in SA. If you want to see media opression in full swing google news on Zim media where journalists mysteriously dissappear. Freaky stuff I tell you!

big bra you raise a good point but i believe if we are going to get somewhere in this country we need not comment on such matters,with the aim to demoralize other people. imagine a non-south african reading your comment, he/she will think zuma is the only person who is using the media to his advantage.. when you comment on such issues next time big brother... be independent don't be a THABO MBEKI fan....

Well now with the big guns in politics and business..tsk tsk,buying up shares in media houses and what not... guess what's going to happen. Look at SABC and the newly appointed so called head of whatever,whom do you think is in charge of the broadcasting house?

Our media is under a big threat. South African government is continuously expanding int's manipulation of South African broadcast and news media. The issue of government officials owning media industries is one example of media manipulation by government.

SABC is also a playground for government officials to gain their influence over the masses. About 45% of news shown on SABC are pro-government. To point out an example, “A two-person internal investigation into allegations that television editors censored a broadcast where Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka was boed by an audience was told by a senior editorial stuff member that SABC journalists are under impression that their editors expect to run only pro-government stories.” (newsweek.washingtonpost.com)

there is no media freedom in any country. the government have all powers to influence the content of the media. looking the current situation of our country, there is a high opportunity of those with powers to decide what to report and not- especially those with economic and pollitical powers- this is the authoritarian media theory- whereby the state governs the media.
Mafenya Lediga