Sanef criticises media control

2008-07-27 20:27

Johannesburg - Any attempt by the government to control the media would be opposed, the SA National Editors Forum (Sanef) said on Sunday.

The forum restated its firm opposition to any attempt by the government to control the media, such as the African National Congress proposed statutory media tribunal.

The decision was taken at Sanef's annual meeting in Johannesburg.

"The industry's editorial self-regulatory system, the Press Council with its Press Ombudsman and Appeals Panel, deals effectively with public complaints in the way similar institutions acted in 60 democracies throughout the world."

It said any control would restrict media freedom and contravene freedom of expression rights in the Constitution.

The forum also expressed their concerns about unsubstantiated complaints by senior ANC members about the Press Council as well as attempts to discredit the judiciary.

It said the increasing attempts by government to exercise control over the media through legislation such as the Films and Publications Amendment Bill, the Protection of Information Bill and the National Key Points Act was deplored.

Sanef criticised a draft bill designed to dissolve the SABC board, adding that it felt this would result in "politicians gaining unacceptable powers over the public service broadcaster.

"The crisis at the SABC was a result of political interference in the selection of SABC board members," the statement said.

- SAPA