The South African National Editors' Forum (Sanef) deputy chairperson of the media freedom committee, Raymond Louw, says the African National Congress-led government is failing former president Nelson Mandela's legacy on press freedom.
Speaking at a press briefing about Nelson Mandela Day in Johannesburg, Louw cited the proposed media tribunal and the legislation on the Protection of Information as a danger to media freedom.
"We are contending with a fair degree of hostility from government officials. There is the Protection of Information Bill which has restrictions on journalists – which means restrictions on the right of the public to be informed. We are totally opposed to this, we believe it should be withdrawn and restructured totally. I believe that the legacy that was initiated by Mandela is slipping badly," says Louw.
Mandela Day, on July 18, is a call to action for people everywhere to take responsibility for making the world a better place, one small step at a time, just as Mandela did.
The former president spent more than 67 years serving his community, his country and the world at large. On Mandela Day people are called to devote just 67 minutes of their time to changing the world for the better, in a small gesture of solidarity with humanity, and in a small step towards a continuous, global movement for good.
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