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MDDA comments on CEO's statement
The Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA) board has stated that it is satisfied that its CEO, Lumko Mtimde, has consistently emphasised and stated that his views on the proposed media appeals tribunal are his own and not those of the agency.
Mtimde writes and comments in his own capacity as a citizen of South Africa, who is guaranteed the right to express his personal views, is in line with the rights espoused in the South African Constitution and Bill of Rights. At no stage has Mtimde expressed the views of the MDDA board, management or staff on the issue of the proposed Media Appeals Tribunal, which would undoubtedly find a wide spectrum of views on the issue, if canvassed at the agency.
The MDDA upholds the principles of the Bill of Rights that guarantees freedom of expression and freedom of association. It looks forward to continued public debates on issues as important as these in deepening and strengthening democracy and remains committed to supporting projects that enable diversity in all its forms and in fostering a plurality of views, opinions and expression.
The agency will submit its input and/or proposal (if necessary) at the right time to Parliament when it conducts the inquiry on the desirability of the establishment of this Media Appeals Tribunal, as proposed.
For more:
- Bizcommunity special section: special focus on South African media freedom
- Bizcommunity special section: special focus on African media freedom
- Bizcommunity Twitterfall: #ZAmediafreedom
- Twitter Search: ZAmediafreedom
- Press Council of South Africa: Help make journalism in South Africa better
- Press Council of South Africa: Public hearings information to be found in There are no degrees of free speech
- Right2Know: www.right2know.org.za, @r2kcampaign, #right2know and Facebook page
- MediaMattersZA: @MediaMattersZA and page [a Media Monitoring Africa initiative]
- Keep South Africa's Media Free: @safreemedia, #safreemedia and Facebook group
- Free African Media: www.freeafricanmedia.com, @AfricanMedia, #freeafricanmedia and Facebook page [a Daily Maverick initiative]
- SANEF: Media Freedom
- Avaaz.org petition: South Africa: democracy at risk
- Freedomhouse.org: Freedom in the world
- Google News Search: Protection of Information Bill media appeals tribunal
- Google Blog Search: Protection of Information Bill media appeals tribunal
