Madam Deputy Speaker, South Africa is abuzz with discussions relating to the issue of the Protection of Information Bill and the Media Tribunal. The atmosphere generated by the debate around media freedom and the proposed Media Tribunal has brought restlessness to some of us. The arrest of the journalist Mzilikazi wa Afrika did not help the situation.
There has been general unpleasantness and an outcry from journalists and organisations of civil society, including the South African National Editors' Forum, Sanef, and the law society. In a supposedly free society like ours, we cannot afford to have the media being under the control of anybody, least of all Parliament. Which information do you want to protect and why? Just on the idea of protecting information, it flies on the face of some of the principles that we have held here as a country - openness, transparency and accountability. The prospect of having journalists jailed or paying hefty fines leaves a bitter taste in one's mouth.
I remember in one country to the north of us, a journalist was arrested for "spreading falsehoods against the head of state". We do not accept the explanation that at present there is no recourse for those who are victims of bad reporting. We have heard of individuals who have successfully brought lawsuits against certain newspapers.
We also do not accept the explanation that the Press Ombudsman is toothless and we challenge those who raise this argument to bring statistics to support it. Was it Comrade Zwelinzima Vavi who said when a dictatorship comes, it does not announce its arrival like drum majorettes? [Time expired.] Thank you. [Applause.]