Faizel Patel, Radio Islam News – 19-10-2017
As South African commemorated Media Freedom Day, Cabinet says the media played a critical role in the fight against apartheid, exposing atrocities and brutality committed by the apartheid regime.
This year marks 40 years since the apartheid regime banned progressive newspapers such as The World, The Weekend World and The Voice.
The 19th of October, commonly known as Black Wednesday, is set aside to commemorate media freedom following a one-day crackdown in 1977 on publications and the outlawing of anti-apartheid groups by South Africa’s apartheid government.
In a statement, cabinet has encouraged South Africans to continue to promote access to information and use the right of media freedom responsibly to help build a united, non-racial, non-sexist, democratic and prosperous South Africa for all.
“Today, media freedom is firmly entrenched in South Africa’s Constitution and remains a fundamental feature of our developing nation.”
Quoting Malcom X, in an address to the South African National Editors Forum (SANEF) annual fundraising gala dinner on Wednesday, ANC treasurer-general Zweli Mkhize says a free and active press is the life-blood of any self-respecting democracy.
“The media’s the most powerful entity on earth. They have the power to make the innocent guilty and to make the guilty innocent, and that’s power. Because they control the minds of the masses.”
Mkhize says Community radio stations and newspapers are some of the effective instruments through media that have promoted active citizenship by airing local issues and reflecting ethnic and linguistic diversity.
He reiterated that press freedom should always be protected saying the media has an important role to play in helping the country understand its problems as it highlights challenges and points to solutions.
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