Media+law+not+a+bid+to+gag+press,+Wyndham+Hartley,+Weekender



=**Media law not a bid to gag press, says Mbeki**=

Wyndham Hartley, Weekender, 3 November 2007
CAPE TOWN — President Thabo Mbeki has strongly defended proposed changes to the Films and Publications Act, which, despite some tinkering, many in the media believe still offend the constitutionally guaranteed freedom of the press.

Mbeki, giving his annual speech at a meeting of the National Council of Provinces, said the government had never had any intention of tampering with constitutionally enshrined freedoms and sharply criticised those who have suggested a comparison between this legislation and press restrictions under apartheid.

He insisted that the bill, which has been approved by the National Assembly and is now before the National Council of Provinces, was a genuine attempt to toughen the legal regime governing child pornography.

Despite the comparisons, which he called “repugnant”, the government was involved in a protracted consultation with the media industry to try to resolve outstanding problems with the bill.

The Films and Publications Amendment Bill hit the headlines when it was found that the draft approved by the Cabinet had removed the exemption from pre-publication classification of material from the original act.

Many in the industry suggested that this could not have happened by accident. Since then the National Assembly has approved the reinstatement of the exemption, but only for publications registered with the Newspaper Association of SA. Other daily, weekly, foreign and community newspapers as well as consumer, trade, technical and professional magazines are not covered by the exemption.

“The point I would like to make with regard to the debate around this bill is that many of the South Africans who are not in Parliament or have not had the opportunity to read this bill, but rely on both our print and electronic media, will be forgiven for thinking that this is a law whose intention is to beat the former apartheid minister of law and order, Jimmy Kruger, in his game of gagging the media,” Mbeki said.

He sharply criticised the way in which the debate around the bill had been reported, saying the public had been fed “half-truths and speculations about government intentions, which have no basis”.

“Our communities are faced with the daily threat of drugs, alcohol abuse and the evils of child and women abuse and child pornography.

“It is clear that those who engage in these immoral activities like child pornography are using loopholes in our media laws to commit their depraved acts. This licentiousness is not compatible with the ethical standards our people would like to see upheld and defended at all times.

“Government has the responsibility to ensure that … our children grow up in a society marked by consistent observation of high moral standards.”


 * From: http://www.businessday.co.za/weekender/article.aspx?ID=BD4A603811**

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