Zuma: Govt commited to media freedom
2010-09-10 21:47
Cape Town - The government remains "fully committed" to media freedom as enshrined in the Constitution, President Jacob Zuma said on Friday.
He welcomed the letters received from various media groupings locally and internationally, raising their concerns about the Protection of Information Bill and the ruling party's proposed media appeals tribunal, the presidency said in a statement.
He also welcomed the inputs made to the debate in the public arena and also in Parliament at public hearings, which indicated the "vibrancy of South African society.
"We respect the Constitution of our country; we fought hard for it to be as progressive and as exemplary as it is.
"This bill will not undermine the spirit of the freedoms enshrined in the Constitution and we wish to assure the media houses in that regard", he said.
The bill was intended to "improve the security of the state with regard to the work of counter-espionage and information peddling, among other things".
Media comments and letters on the media appeals tribunal had been forwarded to the ANC, he said.
- SAPA