Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Johannesburg (Agenzia Fides) - “It is hard to imagine how any person, group or organization, which only a few years ago was protesting so vigorously for the exposing of all injustice, all corruption, all favoritism and nepotism, could in such a short time be calling for legislation designed to prevent the reporting of these very ills," said Cardinal Napier, Archbishop of Durban, on August 19.
Cardinal Napier was among hundreds of readers, academics and activists who sent e-mails, faxes, and text messages to the newspaper “The Mercury,” in support of its campaign to reject the newly proposed legislation that would limit freedom of the press.
"It must be either an extremely short memory or a very guilty conscience that could drive one who had suffered under the old regime to change so quickly from opposing to supporting that undemocratic conduct," said Napier.
The Cardinal also made an appeal to South African President Jacob Zuma: “Please do not allow our country to be brought into disrepute so soon after the wonderful picture of unity and solidarity that South Africa presented to the world during the World Cup.”
There are two bills that are arousing the opposition of large sections of South African society. The first is the arrest of journalists who publish information that the government wants to keep secret. The second involves the creation of a tribunal appointed by Parliament, to control and punish journalists.
The two bills were submitted by the African National Congress (ANC), the party that was historically the opponent of the Apartheid regime and that has ruled the country since 1994. Critics say the new legislation will take aim at those who expose corruption and mismanagement of national leadership.
Among those who have expressed severe criticism of the proposed legislation are Anglican Archbishop Desmond Tutu, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, and writer Nadine Gordimer, winner of a Nobel Prize for Literature who has compared the two bills to the anti-democratic legislation of the Apartheid regime. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 08/25/2010)
