Media Monday - hot topics and topics that make us hopping mad! June 27, 2011

Posted: 27 June 2011 | News - Newsletter | Categories: Democracy and Governance, Media Freedom and Performance

Here is what’s coming up this Media Monday:

  • SABC swallows deep and apologises;
  • The ANC finally agrees to major concessions on ‘Secrecy Bill’
  • Nationalisation? Sure the threat might make our stock market crash but what does it really mean?  The real issues behind calls for nationalisation of mines sought;
  • And our newest whistle blower MMC for this week!

SABC broadcasts Mail and Guardian apology, finally 

The public broadcaster SABC tried in vain to avoid broadcasting a ruling by the Broadcasting Complaints Commission of South Africa (BCCSA) which found the SABC to be in the wrong after broadcasting a report alleging bribery and racism on the part of the Mail and Guardian senior reporter Sam Sole. The newspaper approached the BCCSA to lodge a complaint regarding this matter and the Commission ruled against the SABC.

Following that the SABC appealed the ruling but lost. The SABC then applied to have the ruling rejected pending further appeal to the complaints and compliance committee (CCC) of the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa). The BCCSA rejected the application as it was found that in terms of the relevant legislation, only the complainants (the Mail and Guardian in this case) have the right of appeal to Icasa's complaints body. For a quick account of how we got to where we are today with this case read this Mail and Guardian article.

The SABC’s disregard for the BCCSA’s decision and threats to take the matter further by approaching ICASA irked media watchdog Media Monitoring Africa (MMA) as the move put a dent in the country’s self regulation system. According to MMA, the SABC had just turned itself into a threat to the system of self regulation which is already under threat from the proposed media appeals tribunal (MAT) and the contentious Protection of Information Bill. As a result, MMA pleaded with the BCCSA “to hold firm, resist threats and stick to its mandate and for due process to be followed”. And that is what the BCCSA did!

SABC 3 finally aired the ruling during their prime-time news on SABC 3 this Saturday. Of course the ruling was buried in the bulletin, aired as the fifth story in the bulletin, but the ruling did not dictate that the ruling be the first item in the bulletin now did it? And the language used could somehow suggest that the SABC is not owning up to its faults and sees nothing wrong with its behaviour, and is only acting as directed. But, the ruling was broadcast anyway, which is what matters.

Anyway, did you see the broadcast? We did, and it went like so:

“The Broadcasting Complaints Commission has directed SABC 3 to broadcast the following finding by it: A newscast of 3rd November 2010 dealt with allegations made by businessman Mr. Robert Gumede against the Mail and Guardian reporter Mr. Sam Sole. These allegations included bribery of Mr. Sole by Mr. John Sterenborg and racial bias in the Mail and Guardian reporting on the affairs on Mr. Gumede himself. Firstly, SABC 3 news did not deal fairly with the Mail and Guardian newspaper or Mr. Sole. The SABC did not adequately address the matter of the alleged bribe. There was no evidence that Mr. Sole had received the bribe, and despite the reply broadcast on behalf of the Mail and Guardian and Mr. Sole, an incorrect inference could still have been drawn. Mr. Sole had merely been reimbursed for an air ticket that he had purchased in order to interview a potential news source”.

There! Done! How hard was that SABC, huh? What was all that dilly-dallying about all along? Why use public funds to fight a losing battle, and even disregard the media regulation system in the process, as if it is not facing enough threat already?

But does airing the ruling undo the harm the original report caused or has it come too long after the original broadcast to undo the harm? How about any speedier mechanisms to right such wrongs, and what would those mechanisms be; any suggestions? Even more importantly, does it undo the doubt it cast over the self regulation system? Or did the BCCSA’s firm stance during all this help bolster the system and affirmed industry trust in it?

Nationalisation of mines: what should the people hear? 

ANCYL President Julius Malema has been singing the ‘Nationalisation of Mines’ anthem for a while now and whenever he sings that tune the nation vibrates, economists and media shiver. Week in and out the issue of nationalisation of mines features in our newspapers, but are the people getting the factual information about what it is, what it implies, etc…?

“SA as a whole must go beyond rhetoric and engage substantively on the merits of nationalisation”, and there is no doubt that it should be the media that help us get informed on the issue, so that we are able to understand what it is and what it means, and therefore able to engage with its proponents and opposers on a more informed level. Let us and our media not reduce this issue to mere ANC internal politics and policies, as it is an issue that affects the people in this country.

The Daily Maverick published a thoughtful analysis piece this past Thursday, titled “Analysis: What would happen to SA if mines were nationalised?”. Business experts were spoken to to help unpack what the implications will be should SA mines be nationalised, and also what it will mean for the poor and the people on the ground.

So if we as a country are going to have a debate about this issue, let us focus on its important bits and stop politicising the topic and pointing fingers within the ANC to see who says ‘YES’ or ‘NO’ to the issue. Following the ANC’s continued denial that they support the nationalisation move, and that what Malema is calling for he is doing as himself and is not representative of ANC policy, the party’s provincial structure in the North West came out in support of the move. Surprise, surprise!

On the same issue, the ANC in Gauteng is reportedly also in support of the Youth League’s call for economic transformation, which could mean something along the nationalisation lines, even though it doesn’t quite say that exactly. But while the political tension continues and cracks continue to show in the ruling party, the main issue they have raised is nationalisation of mines. As much as it is a political call, it still remains an important social issue with many social implications, and that is where much focus is needed. Let our media do what it’s supposed to do.

ANC’s concessions on Protection of Information Bill 

As The New Age’s Henry Jeffreys puts it, “It came a few days too late for the inimitable Kader Asmal to savour the moment, but he almost certainly would have welcomed the ANC’s rethink on the Protection of Information Bill and the steps announced last week to significantly bring it into line with the Constitution.”

Yes, it would seem that the ANC has started to come to its senses with regards to the contentious bill, or so it seems for now. The party had earlier threatened to rush the bill through its finalisation even by means of a voting process if need be, much to the opposition and outcry by civil groups, including R2K.  The ruling party has now agreed to major concessions on the bill.

ANC MP Luwellyn Landers announced that certain contentious clauses within the variously dubbed “Secrecy Bill” would be scrapped. According to The Daily Maverick report, “Among the concessions made, the ANC agreed to limit the power to classify information to state security organs, whereas previously this power had extended to all organs of the state. Also, mandatory sentences for those who leaked classified information will now be removed.”

The ANC has also allowed for a retired judge to be able to review classification, thus allowing for an independent oversight, where previously such powers were only granted to the state security minister. The ANC has finally succumbed to pressure, but it is still a bit too early to pop some bubbly and party up a storm in a victorious celebration, as there is still more work to be done on the bill, says the Right2Know Campaign.

The civil society group says that the concessions were made as a result of pressure.  This is a cause for concern as that could mean that should pressure groups run out of steam the ANC will revert back to its stance on the bill, though with Cosatu claiming a key role in the turn around this seems unlikely. The authenticity of the ANC’s sudden turn around on the bill remains to be seen, in the actual drafting and we will be keeping our eyes and ears on the ground to monitor the course of events.

In the meantime, tell us what your thoughts are with these concessions. Is it enough? Should more work be done before we can relax? Is the R2K’s call that it’s not time for celebration yet correct? Where should we go from here? And do you think consensus on major contentious clauses will have been deliberated upon and finalised by the bill’s extended September 23 deadline?

And our newest anonymous whistleblower MMC for the week! 

Our MMC for this week, Amanda Madamx, is a whistleblower and is currently using a pseudonym after a business deal that did not go as good as was planned. She is now working on campaigns against corruption in South Africa.

Want to know how to receive our prestigious Media Matters Contributor (MMC) award? It's really simple: just join media discussions and debates on our Facebook and Twitter pages and you will be rewarded.