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SANEF meeting in Port Elizaberth
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Speeches and Media Releases
 Premier's Office

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EASTERN CAPE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT

SPEECH OF PREMIER REV- MA STOFILE

AT THE FIRST SANEF MEETING IN PORT ELIZABETH ON  3 SEPTEMBER   1999





Master of Ceremonies
 Madam Chairperson and members of SANEF
Distinguished guests
Ladies and Gentlemen

I am greatful for this opportunity to speak to you, especially before SANEF starts its deliberations on how to implement its resolutions of 
transforming and developing our society. It is even more so when considering that this very important interaction follows fairly soon after 
the people of South African had spoken in a strong voice, calling for faster changes in their lives for the better. I consider this as one 
of the rare occasions to share our vision for the country and our views on how we can together help realise what the President described as 
a &#145;nation at work for a better life."

The magnitude of that responsibility calls for stronger and closer cooperation amongst all of us - those in government, the media, private 
sector, labour, institutions of civil society and communities in general. Central to achieving the unity of purpose amongst all the 
stakeholders, is information and communications, which is your core business. It is with a deep understanding of this fact of life that for 
years we struggled for the freedom of expression, media freedom and the right of all people to know. It is these rights and many others as 
pronounced in our Constitution and particularly the Bill of Rights, which we will continue to strive to consolidate and protect as the 
cornerstones of our hard-earned democracy.

Our performance over the first five years of democratic governance in various areas bears testimony to such assertion. The establishment of 
the IBA, Offices of the Public Protector and Auditor General, processing and plans to pass the Open Democracy Bill during this year despite 
governments limited capacity, are proofs of our commitment to "governance in the sunshine".

Some media commentators before 1994, who had deep mistrust of the liberation movements, had warned against what they called &#145;media 
riding on the back of a dangerous tiger which could threaten to devour them when they intend to jump off after the attainment of freedom. I 
am happy to say history has proved them wrong.

However, the protection of whistle blowers and guaranteeing access to information at governments disposal, may not mean any difference to 
millions of people living in rural areas, and those condemned to ignorance, poverty and under development by the apartheid system. These 
guarantees will make a difference only when we empower them to scrutinise and participate in government decision making that affects them, 
circumventing their hurdles.

Central to these debates is access to and use of information by the urban and rural poor as well as the illiterate especially women and 
youth. A number of initiatives in this regard are underway in which various departments are involved.

They include the promotion of community broadcast services under the auspices of the IBA, multipurpose information or community centres, 
expansion of communications structures and networks up to the district level, and extension of telephone network and electricity to areas 
never considered under apartheid. These initiatives are meant to transform communities from being just consumers of opinions of other 
people to opinion givers. From listening to others to being heard. The public should not just be whites and a few privileged blacks. It 
must be the public.

With most of the media represented in this meeting still trapped in the riches, affluence, racial and sexual under-representations and 
urban bias, there is still a long way to go. In fact there are too few voices and commentators on how the government steers the country 
through the rapids of transition and transformation to a truly democratic order we all inspire for.

The white middle aged male dominated media, tends to consider itself exempt from the transformation processes currently underway and 
becomes nostalgic when questioned on these fundamental issues. For example, the print media continue to deny women significant positions, 
regard language as neutral and not re-enforcing the old patriarchal stereotypes, consider rapes and abuses of black women and girl-children 
as mere statistics while giving a human face to white victims of the same abuses.

Examples of the issues I have just raised include: the coverage of womens role models which were published in one of the leading daily 
newspaper on the Womens Day (August 9, 1999), which at a glance would leave one unable to determine whether it is a Spanish or German 
daily, but certainly not in Africa.

In a number of instances they also continue to essentially reflect the old white skepticism of a government by Africans. Again the 
arrogance of continuing to call for example women as "Chairman, Spokesman, etc" without flinching, reflect the depth of the problem you 
have to deal with as SANEF. The resistance to transformation, against the background of the role played by the security establishment of 
the previous regime in collaboration with some media, is bound to raise some concerns, which could be dealt with by the Human Rights 
Commission.

I understanding there is increasing convergence of views on some of these issues. The fairly young SANEF with promising founding 
declarations has already appointment of a woman Chairperson of the Council. This is quite commendable. This also goes for the other 
corrective actions you are now working on.

This in fact is an acknowledgment that transformation cannot leave any sector untouched least of all the media. The media cannot profess to 
be neutral on the fundamental questions of our nationhood, such as nation building.

The values it sells to the public go a long way in moulding the values of society and media managers should be mindful of such 
responsibilities, and not pursue sectoral political or economic interests at all costs. This does not mean that the media should play the 
role of government or be ideologically neutral. These are different roles, although a democratic dispensation would hope that it is 
inspired by progressive ideologies.

The vibrancy of broadcasting following the liberalisation of airwaves with a number of community broadcasters emerging, pioneers what needs 
to happen in the print media as well. The print monopolies need to be challenged to give people means of disseminating news, views and 
comment. The media tends to seek to demonise its critics as media bashers. I wish to reaffirm our commitment to sustain and promote vibrant 
debates in a manner that enhances rather than diminishes our democracy. But we must insist that freedom of the press does not only mean 
freedom from government pressures. It also means freedom from prejudice and from subjective views of the owners of the media and their 
deployed top management.

In the light of these issues I wish to believe that improved ways of actually implementing the declarations you have made, will emerge from 
your deliberations and therefore bring all of us closer to our shared goals. For sure, we need to interact more frequently to deal with 
substantive issues some of which remain outstanding from the interactions we have had in the past with some editors and journalists.

Perhaps a provincial version of SANEF for liaising with government and other role players might need to be set up. Consideration also need 
to be given to setting up vigorous programmes for tackling some of the most vexing problems which continue to draw down our Province and 
our country, such as violence against women, HIV-Aids, crime and corruption.

Let me close by saying, I wish you the best in your deliberations, and hope to hear from you soon.

I thank you.

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