Business divided on tribunal

Johannesburg - Business leaders have expressed mixed reactions to plans by the ANC to introduce measures that could curtail press freedom.

The country is debating the Protection of Information Bill and the proposed introduction of a media appeals tribunal will be tabled at an ANC policy conference next month.

Broad-based black economic empowerment council member Don Mkhwanazi said the Protection of Information Bill would bring stability to a media industry that has been corrupted by unbalanced reporting.

He said: “In SA, there is a tendency to find one newspaper publishing certain information as allegations and subsequently finding newspapers that follow up by presenting that information as fact. For instance, look at the story alleging that President Jacob Zuma’s nephew spent R70 000 on drinks at a party.

“Subsequent articles reported as fact, instead of allegation, that Khulubuse Zuma spent the money on booze.

“Lies reported by the media end up becoming facts because the media has an unfettered freedom,” said Mkhwanazi.

He added that it did not matter whether first world countries did not have information restrictions or tribunals.

Mkhwanazi said: “As a developing nation we should not compromise on our uniqueness by copying everything done by first world countries.

“In the US, for instance, the power relations are balanced and in Britain you would find political parties having an indirect interest in newspapers.

“But in SA the media is unpatriotic and does not present a national agenda.”

His view is in sync with the Black Management Forum (BMF), which said the fourth estate needs a watchdog.

BMF managing director Gaba Tabane supported a media tribunal with enough influence to impose hefty penalties on media houses and practitioners found to have deliberately reported inaccurately and maliciously on individuals and organisations.

In contrast, Business Unity SA chief executive Jerry Vilakazi said it was necessary to have an environment which promoted political and corporate governance transparency.

He said Busa would soon engage the government and the ANC to discuss its serious concerns around media issues.

“Busa nonetheless sees the route of improved self-regulation of the media as the course to take for SA and urges the media to commit itself to strengthening its capacity for self-regulation and introspection to reduce inaccurate reporting and strengthen media accountability,” he said.

Business Leadership SA (BLSA) said it was opposed to any forms of media supervision or regulation involving either government or Parliament.

BLSA chief executive Mike Spicer said their members have fallen prey to poor reporting standards in the past, but the print media itself should come up with concrete proposals to do a better job.

Pick n Pay chairperson Gareth Ackerman encouraged business to play an active role in the media debate and its alignment to the Constitution.

He said the Protection of Information Bill and the proposed media appeals tribunal threaten the country’s freedom and all South African sectors and society are justified in opposing them.

Ackerman said: “We are still a society profoundly troubled by inequality, corruption and want. These challenges need to be thoroughly aired and openly debated if we are to overcome them.”

- City Press

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