ANC WELCOMES THE REVISED PFC TERMS OF REFRENCE

The African National Congress (ANC) welcomes the revised terms of reference of the Press Freedom Commission (PFC). We believe that the scope of work outlined in the revised terms of reference will go a long way in improving press governance and accountability - particularly in the print media.

The PFC's revised terms of reference will, among others conduct research of regulation in the print media, locally and globally. The revised framework will also research self-regulation, co-regulation, independent regulation as well State regulation.

Within the above-mentioned accountability mechanisms, we are pleased that the Press Freedom Commission will come up with the best accountability mechanism of framework, which is suitable for our country and in conformity with our progressive Constitution.

The revised terms of reference represent a welcomed departure from the original terms of reference, which were a narrow response to the ANC's proposal of a Media Appeals Tribunal

Indeed, it has always been our view that self-regulation should be effective in order to protect human rights. As the ANC, we still believe in a need for an appeals accountability mechanism in the event ordinary South Africans are not happy with the outcomes of the press self-regulatory accountability mechanism. We believe in the media appeals accountability mechanism should serve as a recourse in the event South Africans are not happy with the outcomes of the self regulatory mechanism. Such a media appeals accountability  should not be a pre-publishing censorship. It should conform to our constitutional principles and should not be beholden to the media, the State and commercial interests.

The composition of such an appeals accountability mechanism should clearly demonstrate its independence from all the above, find legitimacy within our constitutional framework in ensuring press freedom and the upholding of the founding values enshrined in our Constitution. In line with the provisions of Section 1 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, our founding values include human dignity, the achievement of equality and the advancement of human rights and freedoms.

We therefore believe that the self-regulatory system of framework can be able to co-exist and be complemented by the appeals accountability mechanism.

Statement issued by Jackson Mthembu, ANC national spokesperson, August 12 2011

Click here to sign up to receive our free daily headline email newsletter