Deputy Minister in the Presidency, Kenny Morolong, has re-affirmed the country’s media freedom amid widespread media scrutiny following the recent testimony by KZN Provincial Commissioner, Lt-Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi at the Parliamentary Ad Hoc Committee.
Last week, Mkhwanazi deviated from his prepared witness statement and requested the Ad Hoc Committee and the joint standing committee on intelligence to give instructions to the state security apparatus to investigate the country’s news media.
However, in a separate interview with , Mkhwanazi said he has nothing against the South African media as it plays an important role in society.
“I appreciate the work of many journalists and the media’s role in society. However, the Bill of Rights protects human dignity under our Constitution. When I addressed the committee in Parliament last week, I urged lawmakers to ensure the state protects these rights – even against violations by journalists. I have personally been a victim of such violations, and the pattern adopted by some journalists is worrying,” Mkhwanazi told .
Reflecting on the challenges facing the sector, Morolong said South Africa has not been spared by the numerous challenges plaguing the media industry, saying the latest data also reflects that news outlets are shutting down due to economic hardship in nearly a third of countries globally.
“”With fewer credible news sources, the question might well be asked: how free is the press when power is concentrated in the hands of a few? Throughout the world, freedom of speech is under threat, ranging from government clampdowns to influential leaders and powerful persons criticising the media,” he said.
Morolong on Sunday celebrated the contribution made by journalists and media professionals who continue to lead the fight against corruption and other social ills as South Africa observed “Black Wednesday”, also known as National Press Freedom Day.
Sunday marked 48 years since the historic events of Black Wednesday in 1977, which saw the arrest of then editor of The World, Percy Qoboza, who was detained and held for more than five months in Modderbee Prison under section 10 of the Internal Security Act. The apartheid regime subsequently declared 19 Black Consciousness organisations illegal while also detaining scores of activists.
“Black Wednesday stands as a powerful reminder of the price paid for media freedom and of our enduring responsibility to protect and nurture that freedom. I salute all journalists, communicators and media workers who continue to fight for a better informed and more just South Africa,” he said.
Despite fighting a gallant fight, the deputy minister also lamented the challenges facing the profession throughout the world, saying the media industry is facing an existential crisis amid retrenchments and other challenges in the industry.
Morolong indicated that most media outlets struggle to stay financially viable, which has challenged the media landscape amid mass restructuring and retrenchments.
“Journalism is facing an existential crisis worldwide, with shrinking newsrooms, falling revenues, and increasing threats to press freedom. As the nation marks Black Wednesday — the 1977 apartheid crackdown on the media — the government reaffirms its commitment to press freedom and support for community media through the MDDA (Media Development and Diversity Agency). Amid rising misinformation and AI-driven falsehoods, protecting credible journalism remains vital to safeguarding democracy and public trust,” he said.
