Re: [r2k_working_groups] Sowetan article - ANC somersaults on media

[Mark Weinberg @ AIDC]

I've just finished reading the ANC policy doc on communication and cannot find any reference to the comment made by Radebe below: "In terms of accountability of the print media, an appeals mechanism (should) be found that will ensure increased accountability of the print media is achieved through an independent mechanism free of government and business influence."

In fact the 159 paragraph document only has 10 paragraphs on print media transformation, with a strong emphasis on  transforming ownership and control to ensure greater diversity. 

There proposals include:  

1. Parliament must conduct an enquiry into "desirability and feasibility of a appeals tribunal within the framework of the Constitution". Such a inquiry should also review privacy, libel and defamation laws. Also - oddly - the Parliamentary process should "be empowered to impose sanctions without loss of any constitutional right".  

2. Introduce a BBBEE charter for print media that: "Amongst others, the Charter should address the availability of print media in languages South Africans speak and communicate with, choice of societal issues that are relected, right." (Their typo, not mine)

3. Strengthening the MDDA to support more community and commercial entities.

4. The Competition Commission should focus on anti-competitive practices within the sector.

The bulk of the 32 page doc deals with the broadcast sector and opportunities (for democracy and for business) offered by the rise of internet, mobile and digital communications. Much of this echoes views expressed by R2K in our media freedom/diveristy postion paper and views expressed at the R2K National Summit... including the ANC call to "define ICTs as a basic utility, similar to water and electricity."

On 8 March 2012 00:02, Dale T. McKinley <drd...@metroweb.co.za> wrote:

ANC somersaults on media

Moipone Malefane, Sowetan, 6 March 2012

One of the biggest surprises contained in the ANC proposed policy discussion documents is the suggestion that a media appeal tribunal be independent of government and business.

ANC head of policy Jeff Radebe said yesterday: "In terms of accountability of the print media, an appeals mechanism (should) be found that will ensure increased accountability of the print media is achieved through an independent mechanism free of government and business influence."

This is a deviation from the initial proposal which had stated that the body should be accountable to Parliament.

ANC leader Jessie Duarte also added that the ANC was awaiting the press freedom findings but that the party wants Parliament to engage the country through public hearings on the matter to hear their suggestions. "But the body should be free of government, business and media monopoly influence."

Radebe also defended the ANC's right to introduce policy discussions that may lead to constitutional change.

Addressing the media, Radebe said there was nothing sinister with the ANC proposals. He said to date the Constitution has been amended 16 times since democracy under former presidents Nelson Mandela, Thabo Mbeki and Kgalema Motlanthe, while President Jacob Zuma has not amended it yet.

"And no one said anything when the changes were made to the Constitution. We have a right to assess the situation and make changes.

"The DA in the Western Cape has its own Constitution and no one has said anything," Radebe said.

He made the comments when he was releasing the ANC policy conference documents to the public and ANC members. The documents will be discussed at the party's policy conference in June.

The documents propose constitutional amendments on land, legislature and governance.

On land reform, it is suggested that the willing-buyer, willing-seller method was distorting prices and delaying the process of increasing access to land by the poor.

It proposes that a land management commission should be established to develop guidelines on land management.

The ANC is also proposing the appointment of a land valuer general to help bring consistency to land evaluations and determine financial compensation in cases of land expropriation.

Expropriation should include expropriation for the public interest, which can also include restitution.

On legislature and governance, it says government has to strengthen the provinces and the task should be done by appointing a panel of experts.

The ANC also suggested that the country needs fewer but economically sustainable provinces.

"The ANC must give serious consideration to constitutional requirements to carry out the above, in case there is a need for fundamental changes ... The envisaged policy changes might require constitutional amendments," he said.

On justice, the party wants to see the power to make rules of court relating to case management to reside with the judiciary while rules relating to matters which impact on public policy to be approved by the executive and Parliament.

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