President Zuma must retract ‘Happy News' comments

During a mock press conference with journalism students yesterday, President Jacob Zuma once again, revealed how little he thinks of the role of the media in a constitutional democracy. He unashamedly claimed that the media is not a ‘watchdog' over the government and that reporting ‘negative' news is unpatriotic (see report).

I will be writing to President Zuma to request that he retract these problematic remarks without delay. They have no place in a country where media freedom is enshrined as one of the cornerstones of our democracy.

President Zuma's remarks also point to a deeper problem within the ANC. There has been a growing trend under the Zuma administration to label anyone who tries to hold the government to account as ‘unpatriotic'.

Earlier this year, during the Presidency Budget Vote in Parliament in which MPs were performing their oversight role by asking questions about the state of the South African economy, President Zuma shot back by accusing anyone who dared to question him of being ‘unpatriotic'. This is clearly a president who is afraid to be held accountable and has no regard for the checks and balances provided for in our Constitution. 

The role of an independent media is critical in a constitutional democracy. This is why the Democratic Alliance has fought hard to ensure that the Protection of State Information Bill is aligned with the Constitution and does not stifle media freedom. 

Helen Suzman once said in Parliament, when accused by the apartheid government of asking questions which embarrassed the country: "It is not my questions that embarrass South Africa; it is your answers."

President Zuma should be less concerned about an "unpatriotic" media and more concerned with the quality of his own delivery in office. "Good news" will only ever come from good governance.

Statement issued by Lindiwe Mazibuko MP, DA Parliamentary Leader, September 11 2013

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