R2K to picket Sekunjalo Investments’ attack on editorial independence

The Right2Know Campaign calls all concerned citizens and organisations to attend a picket for press freedom and editorial independence and opposing the recent removal from office of the editor of the Cape Times.

The picket will take place on Tuesday 17 December 2013 from 12h00 to 14h00 at 122 St George’s Mall, Cape Town.

The actions of the new owners of Independent Newspapers, Sekunjalo Holdings, has set a worrying precedent that they acted in a way that threatens the editorial independence of the Cape Times, by dismissing the editor Alide Dasnois and threatening to sue a reporter and Dasnois. This was in response to the coverage of the Public Protector’s report into the issuing of a tender to Sekunjalo Marine Services Consortium by the Fisheries Department.

The South African press is dominated by four large corporations that cannot serve the information needs of all South African. The Right2Know Campaign recognises that in the context there is an urgent need for greater diversity in media ownership and control. However the government’s use of public sector investment funds to purchase Independent Newspapers fails to address the structural concentration of ownership esulting only in a new section of the elite threatening editorial independence in their narrow interests.

Sekunjalo Holding’s threat to editorial independence extends to the 14 newspaper titles under Independent Newspapers, including the Cape Argus, Weekend Argus, The Star, the Mercury plus numerous community newspapers.

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All organisations and individuals who want to support the picket should contact Right2Know Campaign at 021 447 1000, or R2K Western Cape Organiser Pupa Fumba on 0785237392 or at fumba.pupa@gmail.com.

For media comment contact R2K Coordiantor, Mark Weinberg on 084 993 0591 or mark@r2k.org.za

A draft memorandum will be circulated for comment to people orgnisations who indicate support before 12h00 on Monday.