Freedom of Expression Under Attack

Tuesday, 16 September 2008: The South Africa Chapter of the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA-SA) wishes to articulate its views and position on the current debate of the Zapiro’s cartoon of Zuma and the rape of justice, as published by both the Sunday Times and the Mail & Guardian.

As a freedom of expression and media freedom advocacy organization MISA finds the cartoon very much within the confines of media freedom. MISA is of the view that as long as any form of satire does not represent its statements as fact, they should be used to express the concern. A cartoon is a creative form of expression and can be subject to similar critisism and support of a normal journalist. Media comes in various forms and each of these forms has a different impact on its audience. We continue to wonder if the same message that the cartoonist is putting across will have any different impact if it was in a form of a written article or audio clip.

It was also interesting to read how the ruling party – ANC felt about the cartoon, labeling it as disgusting and an abuse of freedom of expression; while Zuma defended press freedom during his address to members of the Hellenic, Italian and Portuguese. The Business Day (Tues, 16 September 2008 – Page 3) quoted him saying: “Our country needs a media that is free of political control and influence. A subservient media is dangerous as it allows those in power to abuse the rights of others at will, knowing that they enjoy the full backing of the media.”

However, our concern is the rising number of defamation cases against the media in the SADC region and in South Africa in particular. We view these defamations as a threat to media freedom, and an act to intimidate the media.

More than ever in the history of our little over a decade democracy, the media is under immense scrutiny for its use of the right to freely express itself. Many feel that the media in general has become the law unto itself, but MISA-SA believes that freedom of expression is right to be enjoyed by all citizens.  We also acknowledge that in exercising this right, the citizen also need to bear in mind that his/her rights do not infringe that of the other.
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For more information on the position of MISA-SA  on this matter, contact:
Media & Advocacy Officer - Manana Stone
Tel: +27-11 339 6767
E-mail: advocacy@misa-sa.org.za