Archbishop Thabo Cecil Makgoba - Photo: David Ritchie
SOUTH Africa has a free press, thanks to the constitution that was thrashed out as the bedrock of the new South Africa 17 years ago. As with anything, this freedom is open to abuse and not always fully representative, but that’s the risk you take when building democratic principles and values in a transparent society.
Now the Press Freedom Commission has invited the public to get involved and contribute ideas about what constitutes press freedom, and how to shape the regulatory framework of the press.
The commission was established in July, amid ruling party threats to dilute media freedom in the form of legislation and the establishment of a media appeals tribunal.
