President Jacob Zuma announced yesterday the establishment of a presidential communication and media working group to provide a platform for the sharing of ideas between the government and media.
“There is a lot we can discuss, from media diversity and transformation to how the media industry can contribute to the attainment of the five percent growth target by 2019,” Zuma said in a speech prepared for delivery in Pretoria.
“In this landmark year of 20 years of freedom, let us re-dedicate ourselves to working together to promote the right of the public to information.”
No further information was provided on it.
Zuma was speaking at the commemoration of Black Wednesday and 20 years of media freedom in South Africa.
On Wednesday, October 19, 1977, the apartheid regime clamped down on the media, banning two newspapers – The World and the Weekend World. The editor and other journalists who stood up against the apartheid regime were arrested.
This day became known as Black Wednesday.
“The reflection about the painful episodes that shaped our history in the long stretch of our journey to freedom is impossible to avoid,” said Zuma.
“This year, we remember these episodes more, given that we are marking 20 years since the attainment of freedom and democracy in our country.” – Sapa