SACP dismisses as baseless allegations carried by the City Press

The South African Communist Party (SACP) dismisses with contempt the baseless story in the Naspers’ Media24 City Press alleging that the Party is involved in running the Construction Education and Training Authority (Ceta). The newspaper chose not to cover the Party’s written response that: “There is no single structure or committee of the SACP involved in the running of a SETA”. The City Press does not have any authority or standing to allocate SACP membership to people who are not members of the Party.

It is therefore wrong for the newspaper to report that someone is a member of the SACP, whereas in truth that person is not a member of the Party. The SACP has its doors open to the media whenever information is requested. This despite the fact that at times such information may be marginalised and excluded by some in the media as it might contradict the agenda or angle they have set for a story and want the reader to believe. Untruthful information can only be used deliberately as part and parcel of a smear campaign, in this instance against the SACP, its leaders and members.

The SACP has raised serious concerns about Naspers media monopoly in South Africa and initiated a Media Transformation Campaign, among others, to achieve de-monopolisation, diversity of perspective, robustly independent accountability, fair and accurate reporting. The Party will take appropriate legal steps against the Naspers’ Media24 City Press on the story.

The SACP reaffirms its determination, that no amount of propaganda will weaken the Party’s efforts to fight for the achievement of transformation in the media.

Statement issued by the SACP, 28 February 2016