By Staff Reporter and Sapa
The government was finalising proposals on a section of the Criminal Procedure Act that could force journalists to reveal confidential sources, Minister of Justice Jeff Radebe told the SA National Editors Forum (Sanef).
Addressing Sanef's AGM on Saturday night, Radebe emphasised that the government would not treat the media in the way it was treated during the apartheid years.
"As a Minister of Justice I want to assure you that any 'new' law must be in conformity with the constitution," he said, referring to the constitution's media freedom clauses.
There is growing media concern at the ANC's proposed state-appointed media appeal tribunal to adjudicate complaints against the press, as well as the restriction of the access protection bill.
Radebe said he expected the ANC to announce by Wednesday, its decisions and proposals.
Referring to discussions about Section 205 of the Criminal Procedure Act and other sections affecting journalists, Radebe said they were finalising their proposals.
Sanef expressed its "strong rejection" of renewed proposals for a state-appointed tribunal as well as a number of proposed new laws that it says are "hostile" to the free flow of information to South Africans.
"The proposed tribunal would go against the self-regulation system that involves the media and members of the public, and would be unconstitutional," Sanef said.
The forum expressed its support for the Press Council Code of Conduct and urged editors to adopt a zero-tolerance approach to violations.
The tribunal proposal would be tabled at the ANC's National General Council in September, Sanef was told.
Sanef resolved to work with like-minded groups in a campaign for public support for media freedom.
The Press Council and Press Ombudsman system, "deals effectively with public complaints", Sanef said.
SA Football Association president Kirsten Nematandani, a guest at Sanef's AGM, reiterate the commitment Safa gave Parliament last year that the World Cup would have a lasting legacy for South Africa.
"We also pledged to establish a culture of accountability and to rid Safa of the nepotism and cronyism which had established itself at the highest levels of football," he said.
He urged traditionally rugby-playing schools to introduce football and let children decide whether they wanted to play football or rugby.
He said Safa would explore with government departments how football could be taken to as many schools as possible.
"In years gone by, football games at mainly black schools drew big crowds. Some of that passion is gone and we need to regain it," Nematandani said.
"I think we should also take a leaf from the book of rugby-playing white schools. They're doing something right because they draw big crowds, sometimes bigger than at PSL games."
"We are not too shy to say that we can and want to learn. This is why we look forward to how you report on us, because we are in this together."
Sanef elected a new leadership at the AGM, with Avusa editor-in-chief Mondli Makanya taking over as chairperson from The Star's deputy editor Jovial Rantao, and Mary Papayya, Bureau Chief of Sowetan in KwaZulu-Natal, voted deputy chairperson.
Group deputy political editor of Independent Newspapers Moshoeshoe Monare was elected secretary-general, while Juanita Williams who joins Zoopy.com as news editor in August, was re-elected Sanef treasurer.