Media leaders rally 'troops' to fight repression

"Affect all of us"

SANEF chairman Mondli Makhanya said: "The media is now the enemy. There is a huge propaganda onslaught and mobilisation against the media. It is much more insidious and dangerous because it will affect all of us on the ground.

"We should all be concerned because it is not only about us but also about our democracy and the society we live in."

The SA media environment has become a very hostile ground in the past few years, worsened by a series of what critics call repressive laws and the proposed imminent creation of a media appeals tribunal, which will fine and jail journalists who 'undermine' the government.

Horrifying list

Media rights campaigner Raymond Louw said the horrifying list of these repressive laws include the Film and Publications Act, National Key Points Act, ICASA Amendment Bill, Public Service Broadcasting Bill, Protection from Harassment Bill, and lately the much-hated Protection of Information Bill.

In terms of the Protection of Information Bill, journalists caught with so-called 'classified' information will face a maximum five years in prison.

"These are the apartheid laws SANEF has been telling the government to review," Louw said.

Some critics believe the fundamental reason behind the enactment of these laws is to hide the government's corruption (mostly tenders and shady business deals), incompetence, negligence and weakness, especially about service delivery.

Difficult for investigative journalists

Analysts said these some of these repressive laws will make it difficult for investigative journalists to do their work properly, thus spelling the dreadful end of investigative reporting, a field which makes SA media one of the most excellent in the world.

Makhanya said it is high time for all journalists to unite and have a much broader base in order to fight together in a tribe.

Strategies to counter the 'insurgency' include, among others, organising mass public campaigns to raise awareness about the state's bullying, approaching the Constitutional Court, doing some soul-searching (putting some editorial order in newsrooms), toyi-toying (mass public protests), forming a coalition with NGOs and COSATU, toning up the editorial content and engaging with the ruling party.

Similar to Zimbabwe

SANEF media freedom committee chairman Thabo Leshilo said the media tribunal, which may be unconstitutional, might force journalists operating in SA to register in order to get a licence to practice, similar to the Zimbabwe situation.

Wits University's Prof Anton Harber said the media should keep doing what they do best. "We must be aware that every mistake we make will used by the ANC to lash us."

Some senior journalists told Bizcommunity.com that they will consider 'fleeing' the country to work abroad if things get nasty. "Something really bad is about to happen, which will make our job extremely difficult. And I can't work in such a dictatorial environment," one reporter said on condition of anonymity.

Mzilikazi wa Afrika

Meanwhile, Sunday Times journalist Mzilikazi wa Afrika, who was arrested yesterday at the venue while the SANEF meeting took place (Avusa Media headquarters in Rosebank, Johannesburg), will 'soon' appear in a Mpumalanga court with two other people, according to media reports.

Police say wa Afrika will face fraud charges and defeating the ends of justice, for apparently being in possession of a 'fraudulent' letter of resignation of Mpumalanga premier David Mabuza to President Jacob Zuma.

Arresting a journalist in this fashion, even if it is on legitimate grounds, shows that the police will be tough on journalists, Sunday Times editor Ray Hartley was last night quoted by e.tv news as saying.

For more:

• Capital: Newspaper seeks urgent interdict to free journalist
  
• Times Live: Sunday Times: Police guilty of detention without trial
  
• News24.com: Mystery surrounds journo's case
  
• Times Live: Mzilikazi wa Afrika case thrown out of court
  
• The Wild Frontier (Ray Hartley's blog): The ANC must be fuming at the police right now. Read on ...
  
• TechCentral.co.za: Slippery slope to repression
  
• ANC.org.za: discussion paper on media transformation, ownership and diversity
  
• Bizcommunity special section: special focus on media freedom
  
• Bizcommunity Twitterfall: #ZAmediafreedom
  
• Google News Search: Protection of Information Bill media appeals tribunal
  
• Twitter Search: #ZAmediafreedom
  
• Google Blog Search: Protection of Information Bill media appeals tribunal