Motlanthe, Sanef meet over media legislation
President Kgalema Motlanthe met the South African National Editor’s Forum (Sanef) in Pretoria on Saturday to discuss legislation affecting the media.
The meeting saw the government and Sanef agreeing that all efforts should be made to resolve differences before resorting to litigation.
The meeting discussed Sanef’s opposition to what it considers “media-unfriendly laws”.
“It was agreed that a colloquium would be fast-tracked by GCIS and Sanef on the matter, and the justice and constitutional development minister would actively seek other means to allow Sanef to engage the legislative process,” said a statement issued by the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS).
The future of the Presidential Press Corps was also discussed.
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“There was a joint commitment to the establishment of a functional Presidential Press Corps in terms of the need for regular high-level engagement by the president and Cabinet with the media.”
Motlanthe gave an undertaking to start this process by giving regular briefings to the media.
The Film and Publications Bill, which had been sent to the president to be signed into law, was also discussed.—Sapa
