The following is a 24 February 2000 IPI letter to the chairperson of the South African Human Rights Commission: Dr Barney Pityana Chairperson South African Human Rights Commission Private Bag 2700 Houghton 2041 Vienna, 24 February 2000 By fax: 2711-4841360 Dear Dr Pityana, On behalf of the International Press Institute (IPI), the global network of […]
The following is a 24 February 2000 IPI letter to the chairperson of the South African Human Rights Commission:
Dr Barney Pityana
Chairperson
South African Human Rights Commission
Private Bag 2700
Houghton
2041
Vienna, 24 February 2000
By fax: 2711-4841360
Dear Dr Pityana,
On behalf of the International Press Institute (IPI), the global network of editors and media executives dedicated to promoting press freedom and improving the standards and practices of journalism, I would like to take this opportunity to present our concerns about the recent decision by the Human Rights Commission (HRC) of South Africa to subpoena more than thirty editors and journalists for hearings on racism.
Like the HRC, IPI is greatly troubled by the vestiges of racism that still exist in elements of the media. Our members across post-Apartheid South Africa are aware of the remaining problems and are working tirelessly to eradicate the blight completely.
In dealing with this issue, it would be entirely appropriate for editors to closely collaborate with the HRC. However, we find the issuing of subpoenas objectionable as it infringes on the constitutionally-protected right of freedom of expression.
The editors are being legally compelled, under threat of imprisonment, to take the stand and be cross-examined on untested and confusing charges of being “implicated” in racism, and to justify their news content. There is certainly a feeling among South African journalists that the Commission is pre-emptively implicating newspapers in propagating racism. As you are no doubt aware, the South African constitution prohibits public bodies from imposing standards on journalists. The exception to this is of course the propagation of hate speech as elaborated in Article 16. It is clear that what generally concerns the HRC is not hate speech as defined in the constitution.
As media representative groups, editors and publishers share the HRC’s objectives on this matter, this confrontation is unhelpful and unnecessary. We feel it would be considerably more constructive if the subpoenas were withdrawn and the media industry were fully engaged in roundtable discussions on the issue.
We respectfully urge you to reconsider your position on this pressing matter. For South Africa’s nascent democracy, it is imperative that the issue of racism in the media be tackled in a manner that embraces the principles of free expression.
We thank you for your kind attention.
Yours sincerely,
Johann P. Fritz
Director
Recommended Action
Similar appeals can be sent to:
Dr Barney Pityana
Chairperson
South African Human Rights Commission
Private Bag 2700
Houghton, South Africa
2041
Fax: +2711 484 1360
E-mail: bpityana@jhb.sahrc.org.za
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
