Pretoria - The National Press Club has welcomed the meeting between government and the South African National Editors' Forum (SANEF) at the weekend.
Yusuf Abramjee, chairperson of the National Press Club said that they welcomed the announcement by the Deputy President Kgalema that the print media will be given time to address its shortcomings referring to the proposed media tribunal.
He said it was heartening to hear Motlanthe saying that government remained fully committed to the Constitution.
"The Deputy President told the meeting that the government had no intention of doing anything whatsoever that may undermine freedom of expression and freedom of the media to function effectively. He added that Parliament will not pass any laws which go against the Constitution," Abramjee said.
He however said while the media has to be independent, expose wrongdoing, highlight the good and the bad, it must continue to find concrete and practical ways of creating a better South Africa.
This comes as the country celebrates Media Freedom Day. On 19 October 1977, the newspapers The World and Weekend World as well as several black consciousness organisations were banned.
Editor Percy Qoboza was arrested and jailed together with other journalists. The day became known as "Black Wednesday."
Abramjee said it was important that the media industry in South Africa should honour this day, especially now that media freedom is in the spotlight.
"As we celebrate Media Freedom Day, let's celebrate our achievements since the dawn of democracy and reaffirm the need for free speech," he said.
The country has moved from racial discrimination to a non racial democracy where the rights of ordinary citizens are now protected and enshrined in a Constitution which provides a balance between the freedom of expression and the right to dignity and equality.
Free speech and a free media are entrenched in the Constitution Act No. 108 of 1996 and the media operate in an environment free of oppression, persecution and the repressive legislation which sought to restrict and control the media.
