Cape Town - South Africa Minister in the Presidency, Jeff Radebe, on Tuesday said the time was ripe to change the perceptions of Africa as just a continent of “doom” and said journalists had a key role to play helping the continent take its rightful place in the world.
Delivering the opening address at the inaugural China-Africa media summit in Cape Town, Radebe welcomed visitors to “one of the best tourism destinations in the world due to its very rich history and diverse heritage as the ‘Mother City’, scenic landscapes, unique biodiversity, meshing of different cultures, unlimited business and investment opportunities, special mediterranean climate, and many other features”.
He then pointed out Robben Island, where the late former President Nelson Mandela and many other freedom fighters had been imprisoned, and how it had been turned from a place of sorrow and a painful past into a hope for a better future.
“Thanks to the solidarity of our brothers and sisters from fellow African countries, China and from across the globe,” Radebe said.
“We would not have made it without the vigorous publicity done by fearless journalists and rights activists that put their lives and those of their families at immense risk to contribute to our freedom and democracy in their special ways.”
Jiang Jianguo, the Minister of State Council Information Office of China, was among several hundred guests which included journalists from Africa and China.
Radebe said: “Media owners, editors, journalists, and intelligentsia, you are here to deliberate on a very important and fitting subject matter, that is: A new Win-Win Media Co-operation between China and Africa. As you discuss this topic, you should always remember the critical role and value of media in society as the ‘fourth estate’.
“At a political level, as most African leaders we appreciate the increasing diplomatic and trade relations with China. I am therefore hoping that as media activists you will be able to strengthen the relationship between Africa and your Chinese counterparts in terms of deepening a new type Sino-African Strategic Partnership,” said Radebe.
“For a very long time, Africa has been branded as continent of doom; only characterised by malnourished babies, poverty, crime, conflict and squalor.
“Yes, these problems do exist in our continent like in many other parts of the world and their adverse impact is severe to individuals and communities across our land.
“However, it is also our duty to tell the good story that would help change the negative narrative to an Africa that is land of opportunities and potential; rich with unique cultural diversity and resources that could be harnessed effectively for the benefit of all our people and contribute to a better world.”
Radebe said that unlike during the days of slavery and colonialism, Africa had a unique opportunity at this conjecture to determine its own destiny and engage in international relations and co-operation as an equal among the nations of the world.
“I would like to urge all types of media to take advantage of the new ‘Information Technology Revolution’ that has emerged in Africa, whereby more than 80% of her citizens are now connected to cell-phones and related mobile technologies.
“Our people are not just connected, but they are using technology in ways that have never been imagined before: ranging from keeping in touch with other people, conducting complex financial transactions, accessing critical government and private sector services, accessing news and other useful information, engaging in media debates, mobilising people for social causes, and so forth. Here is an opportunity for media to contribute to development and positive behavioural change by publishing content that is not only informative, but also educational, empowering, and liberating to individuals and communities.”
Radebe said Africa was one of the few continents that was experiencing continuous economic growth as measured through average GDP of about 5%, which was projected to continue improving into the future, against the recent global economic recession and financial meltdown.
“We are all duty-bound to ensure that the benefits of this unprecedented economic growth are translated into real socio-economic development for all our people. It is greatly encouraging that in the recent times Africa has witnessed significant reduction in headline poverty levels due to progressive policies that are increasingly being implemented by African Governments in partnership with their global strategic partners such as the People’s Republic of China,” said Radebe.
“We appreciate the Chinese people, businesses and government for their interest to partner with African countries through mutually beneficial mechanisms like the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).”
South Africa is the co-chair of the FOCAC and Radebe said the country was looking forward to hosting the Johannesburg Summit and the Sixth Ministerial Meeting of FOCAC in Johannesburg from 3 to 5 December 2015.
He added that the summit would be an opportunity to “further stimulate growth and unlock new opportunities between China and Africa on trade and cooperation”.
“Africa and China have forged strong economic relations, particularly since 2009 when China became the continent’s largest trading partner,” he said. “The relationship between China and Africa is based on more than just trade, it is a partnership that is aligned to Africa’s development goals. Media leaders from both China and Africa also stand an opportunity to frame win-win solutions that would deepen this positive trajectory of co-operation and development.”
Referencing the African Union’s Development Agenda 2063, Radebe said: “Media leaders are encouraged to draw from this new energy to contribute in their special way to the emancipation of Africans from the chains of poverty, inequality, conflict, crime, corruption, illiteracy, disease, economic plight, and vulnerability to socio-economic risks and environmental hazards”.
Radebe added: “We also invite our Chinese friends to partner with us in championing development in the continent through new business ventures, infrastructure development, media capacity development and many other areas of mutual interest. Together we can take Africa and China forward in positive ways that have never been imagined before.”
He described the media as an invaluable source of independent voice and information for ordinary people and said “our citizens should have access to information that would empower them to assess options and opportunities that would make them determine their own freedom, development and prosperity”.
“Again, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to be part of this historic moment whereby Africa and China are chatting new ways of co-operation towards strengthening and deepening media-to-media relationships,” he added.
“In this new global knowledge economy, we cannot allow a situation whereby we become victims of globalisation when we have had all the opportunity to design instruments and mechanisms of framing the agenda collectively and collaboratively. I view the partnership between media leaders of Africa and China as an initiative that defies all the naysayers and pessimists, by entering into an optimistic Sino-African Strategic Partnership that seeks to bring about new ways of doing business in this terrain.”
African News Agency
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