Durban - South Africa fought hard for freedom of expression and should never take it for granted, says the National Press Club.
In a statement to commemorate World Press Freedom Day on Sunday, Jos Charle, chairman of the National Press Club, said: “The increase in the harassment, intimidation and arrests of journalists that we have witnessed of late, is worrying and a major concern for the journalism profession. This is also a blow to freedom of expression in the world, where media plays a key role in facilitating freedom of expression.”
Charle also called for reporting which informed and educated.
Adriaan Basson, SA National Editors Forum (Sanef) media freedom sub-committee chairman, said journalists in South Africa were generally free to do their jobs compared to other parts of the world.
However, “we should not rest of our laurels, we need to stay vigilant and guard media freedom. The fact the so-called Secrecy Bill is still on President Zuma’s desk awaiting his signature is concerning. It will hamper the work of investigative journalists,” he said.
Basson said there also needed to be more education campaigns for police and the public on the rights of journalists, who are at times forced to delete pictures or are abused.
In his speech at an anti-xenophobia imbizo last month, King Goodwill Zwelithini welcomed a Human Rights Commission probe into an earlier speech by him. But he also urged that the commission look at the media’s role.
Regarding this, Basson said: “The South African media is regulated. Institutions like the press council are there if anyone feels they have been misquoted or misrepresented.”
However, National Press Club chairman, Ben Rootman, said the media should ensure it reported responsibly and that it was certain of the correctness of its facts.
Daily News