Instead of an objective watchdog, the Press Council of South Africa seems more like a guardian of legacy media interests – and that’s a disservice to every South African who values an open, fair, and truly independent press.
Let’s get one thing straight: the Press Council of South Africa isn’t a state regulator. It’s an NGO – a private club that sets its own rules and lives in its own world. While it portrays itself as the moral guardian of South Africa n journalism, a quick look beneath the surface raises some serious questions. The PCSA demands transparency from others but conveniently side steps that same principle when it comes to its own funding. Who bankrolls the PCSA? They won’t say.
Then there’s Ben Winks, known for his involvement in high-profile political cases, often defending the Democratic Alliance. He has represented News24’s Karyn Maughan in her legal dispute with President Zuma. Now, alongside Helene Viljoen, also a member of the Press Council of South Africa , Winks has co-authored an article titled"Independent Media Expelled from Press Council: Media Must Be Free, but Also Fair.
And then we have Themba Sepotokele from Sowetan, who recently came after Independent Media in an article about “rogue” journalism. When individuals like Sepotokele are in positions of influence, can the council really claim it’s here to look out for independent media? It seems more like a clique supporting legacy media than a genuinely neutral body.Here’s where things get interesting. The PCSA talks a big game about transparency, but it’s suspiciously quiet about who funds it.
The PCSA’s affiliated organisations paint a similar picture. SANEF, one of its key allies, is funded by big names like ABSA, Media24, Multichoice, and, of course, the Open Society Foundation. The Forum of Community Journalists receives backing from Caxton and Avbob, while the Association of Independent Publishers lists Arena, MTN, and – yet again – the Open Society Foundation as major funders. Even the Interactive Advertising Bureau , supposedly self-funded, is clouded in mystery.
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