5 September 2007
Government and the South African National Editors' Forum (SANEF) met today
in Tuynhuys, Cape Town, to discuss two key issues.
The Government delegation was led by Minister in the Presidency, Dr Essop
Pahad, who was accompanied by the Ministers of Public Enterprises, Safety and
Security, Justice and Constitutional Development, the Deputy Minister of Home
Affairs, the Director General in the Presidency, CEO of Government
Communication and Information System (GCIS), Head of Policy in the Presidency
and other officials.
The Sanef delegation was led by the Chairperson of Sanef, Mr Jovial
Rantao.
Sanef raised its reservations about certain clauses in the Film and
Publication Bill which include pre-classification provisions, constitutionality
of the Bill and criminal sanctions that the Bill proposes. The meeting agreed
that Sanef and Government legal teams will meet as a matter of urgency to
consider all Sanef's reservations on the draft Bill. The meeting noted that
Sanef has made a submission to the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) and
noted further that the NCOP will be conducting public hearings on the Bill in
the near future.
The Government delegation raised its concerns about the media's handling of
the issue of the right to privacy in general and the specific matter of respect
for the principle of patient and doctor confidentiality. Government reaffirmed
its commitment to the constitutionally guaranteed right to free press but was
of the view that there needs to be a dialogue in the country on the ethics that
must guide the media in exercising this right. The parties agreed to convene a
special seminar to discuss the role of the media in our democracy with a view
to reaching common ground on the balance that must be found between the right
to privacy, the public interest, media ethics and freedom of expression.
Enquiries:
Themba Maseko
Government Spokesperson
Cell: 083 645 0810
Jovial Rantao
Sanef Chairperson
Cell: 082 446 6008
Henry Jeffreys
Sanef Deputy Chairperson
Cell: 082 556 8883
Issued by: Government Communications (GCIS) and Sanef
5 September 2007
