ANC STATEMENT ON MEDIA PLOT BY DAILY DISPATCH TO COLLAPSE EASTERN CAPE ANC AND ITS GOVERNMENT
14 MAY 2015
For decades, the African National Congress (ANC) has championed freedom of the press, having played a major role in shaping the country`s Constitution, which protects press freedom, media diversity and freedom of expression, among other rights.
Due to our commitment to constitutional democracy, South Africa ranks among countries where journalists enjoy high freedom of the media. Addressing the South African National Editors` Forum Nat Nakasa Award dinner on 27 June 2009, ANC President Jacob Zuma reiterated the ANC`s position on press freedom. He said: "We seek reporting that is credible and honest and informative. We seek comment and analysis that challenges us and provides fresh insight into our world and the challenges we face."
While the ANC will not deviate from ensuring an atmosphere of a vibrant diverse and free media in South Africa, it will equally challenge any abuse of this freedom. Abuse of media freedom is no different to the abuse of other freedoms protected by the Constitution. It is against this background that the ANC has noted with shock and dismay a well - orchestrated media plot by the Daily Dispatch at its "bosberaad" planning for 2015/16 year to tarnish Eastern Cape Premier and collapse Eastern Cape Provincial government.
A document of the newspaper leaked to the ANC, includes several damning plans of the Daily Dispatch to spy on the ANC Eastern Cape Chairperson, Comrade Phumullo Masualle, further extract from the document, under a section, "The Opposition" reads, "Is there something that they are coming up with? Can we work with them?” obviously against the ANC and the ANC government.