Media Tribunal- An Oppression of the Media

Young yet indulging in ways of the experienced. Advocating freedom and democracy but yet ridiculing the very purpose of freedom. Liberated by title but still oppressed in all aspects of life. Hypocrisy is the name of the game.


In a country which has experienced a change in leadership, scandals within the ruling parties and a change in our constitution, South Africa is still classified as a developing country. In my understanding of this ‘politically correct’ adjective, we are a country that is still caught up in binary oppositions that, some might argue, impede the next level of success and development. Still being a huge outline and highlight between the elite and marginalised, the poor and the rich and black and white, we are not even close to being liberated nor are anywhere close to being freed from the things that are inevitable about us human beings.


We are a country that hold a lot of secrecy and thus have failed to deal with issues that affect the nation as whole as they appear as a result of retaliation in forms of crime, illiteracy and diseases. Our history carries wounds that still haven’t healed and events that still bring out hatred and resentment in a lot of our citizens as they have not been dealt with from the grass-root up but chopped at the top, leaving the roots to grow stronger and deeper into the soil. What this means is that the tree grows internally although its growth is invisible on the outside. Roots that grow deep underneath the ground have the potential to uneven the ground and thus causing disturbances in the landmarks which exist.


What the media does is try and be critical of such issues that run deep and that are not dealt with. The aim of the media is to provide news that do not shape society but informs society and educate them on matters that concern them immediately and those distant from the present. The media serves to be a catalyst which builds a bridge where the binary oppositions that exist can have a platform to express their issues. In so doing, the media in a country should have the liberty and freedom of press that would allow them to do their duties without having to report and seek approval from ‘watch-dogs’. The media should not be treated like a school child that is given homework and then having to report to the teacher the following day only to be corrected and marled down for not bringing out what the teacher initially wanted from them. If that is the case then what do we mean when we speak of a democratic country? What do we mean when we speak of development? And what do we mean when we speak of the public?


Without the public, there would not be a government, there would not be a need for leadership and there would not be a need for political instruments such as democracy. If the public play such a pivotal and instrumental part of life then why are they being denied the privilege of knowing what happens in the world around them? Why should the media act as its psychiatrist that diagnoses them and tell them what they need?


If our main objective is to allow the public to grow and it is to serve the public then we owe it to the public to deliver news that is true, informative and that is knowledgeable. By oppressing the media and giving power to the political party that is in power will result in media that is subjective which would go against the vision and purpose of democracy. The media tribunal will cripple democracy and impede change which is a fundamental need of human life. This life is not meant to be a comfort zone but a critical analysis is needed to challenge the present to produce a better tomorrow.