Zille's diktat now a sword hanging over all other newspapers' editorial independence

18 March 2015

The SACP condemns the high-handed, illiberal  instruction by the Premier of the Western Cape, Helen Zille, to all Western Cape government departments to stop subscriptions  to the  Cape Times newspaper. Zille, a former journalist and supposed defender of democratic debate has revealed her true colours. She is thin skinned and intolerant of even the mildest criticism.

Zille's deplorable decision must not be taken lightly. If left to prevail, it could become a precedent with serious consequences.

Her instruction is an extreme case of a politician abusing public power to further narrow party, indeed personal, political ends. Her move is particularly bizarre, given that in the South African commercial media, the DA is typically showered with positive coverage. Some newspapers have become little more than its mouthpieces. This goes hand-in-hand with negative coverage of, if not a complete black-out on some of the formations of our mass democratic movement and the ANC-headed liberation alliance, the SACP included.

The secret is out for all to see. Zille's diktat is now a sword hanging over all other newspapers' editorial independence. We welcome SANEF's criticism of Zille's move.  But reactions must not end in condemnations only. We know that many members of the DA and in the DA-run Western Cape government query the wisdom of this move. They have a responsibility within their party to fearlessly oppose this act of petulant kragdadigheid. We call on all media professionals, including those who have been historically opposed to us, not to be cowered by this illiberal move.

Statement issued by the SACP, March 18 2015

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