Dear Colleague

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Dear Colleague

Please find below a release from Independent Media post their representation to the Standing Committee on Finance at parliament.

For more information or questions, please contact: [email protected].

Kind regards


Independent Media Presents its case to SCoF

Independent Media asks ScoF to help it ensure that media freedom and diversity remain an imperative for South Africa

Cape Town, 17 March 2021Independent Media’s commitment to integrity, transparency and good governance in its dealings with the Public Investment Corporation (PIC), was further underlined in a candid presentation to Parliament’s Standing Committee on Finance (SCoF) today.

Independent Media’s detailed report to ScoF was in response to Minister Tito Mboweni’s suggestion to the Committee that “The Sekunjalo Group” be afforded an opportunity to address matters raised out of the Commission of Inquiry into the Public Investment Corporation (PIC). Independent Media, through the Sekunjalo Group, requested the session with SCoF to present their side of the story.

In the presentation, a proactive measure by Independent Media, the publisher opened by clarifying its naming convention – having been invited as ‘The Sekunjalo Group’ to appear before ScoF – and correcting ongoing misperceptions in this regard.  For clarity, it was a special purpose vehicle – Sekunjalo Independent Media (SIM) – that was involved in the purchase of Independent Media from the Irish owners in 2013 and not The Sekunjalo Group itself.

Critically and fundamental to the matter at hand, Independent Media underlined that the PIC is no longer an investor or a shareholder in SIM nor Independent Media itself, having transmuted its interests to a stake in Sagarmatha a number of years ago.  (SIM has been renamed as Independent Media Consortium – IMC).

Given the lack of ownership or direct involvement in Independent Media, consideration by ScoF needs to be given as to why the PIC is hellbent on wasting taxpayers money with expensive litigation – perhaps it is because the PIC, under new leadership, has taken a hostile approach to Independent Media and Sagarmatha.  Independent Media also observed how peculiar it is, that the PIC, claiming to act for pensioners, has instituted summons against SIM and Independent Media and has not offered any support or attempt to defend media freedom and journalism.

As the matter is currently before the courts however, Independent Media’s management was unable to elucidate or comment further.

The presentation, a lesson in transparency, reinforced the danger to media freedom and diversity of views, if Independent Media were to be shrouded or muzzled, to become just another media house representing the minority in South Africa.

This constant desire to silence Independent Media highlights the very reason why the PIC was interested in investing in the publishing house in the first place – the essential requirement for a transformed media space representative of all South Africans and one that is not afraid to ruffle a few feathers with the telling of the truth – about people and situations affecting South Africa.

Independent Media also conveyed its willingness and desire for all parties to work together for the good of democracy, requesting that it be accorded the same level of respect and support as its competitors.  Continuous efforts to liquidate and/or eradicate Independent Media are not beneficial to anyone, least of all the more than 1500 employees who stand to lose their livelihoods which would further add to rising unemployment stats.

27 years into democracy and the very company that has gone the extra mile to create a transformed media – Independent Media – is being persecuted and vilified.  the question Independent Media keeps coming back to, and once again presented to SCoF – is why?

It is ironic therefore, that those such as the self-appointed media watchdog, SANEF, who preach media freedom, are now also actively engaged in preventing that from happening.

As an assurance that media ethics and that all sides of a story can be told and that there is recourse for the times in which opinions between media and readers diverge, Independent Media has a robust and efficient Press Ombudsman.  This office is staffed with a cohort of highly respected industry professionals.  To question Independent Media, is to question the pedigree and ethics of each of the people involved – all of whom, are above reproach.

Independent Media, as the single biggest print media organisation in South Africa, commands an impressive audience reach.  It is precisely this, that makes it both a desired asset and a would-be weapon of mass destruction in the hands of people whose political views do not necessarily embrace a free and fair and equitable society.

Independent Media concluded its presentation by requesting that Parliament resist all attempts to curtail media freedom and diversity in South Africa, and that it be allowed to go about its business of bringing the news to the people – truthfully and transparently.

//ends

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People are at the heart and soul of Independent Media. We are one of South Africa’s leading multi-platform content companies. Our stable of fine, quality publications includes 20 of the country’s most prominent newspapers with The Star in Johannesburg, Cape Times and Cape Argus in Cape Town and The Mercury in Durban firmly entrenched in millions of households throughout South Africans. African Independent is the only title that serves the African continent and I’solezwe lesiXhosa provides the daily news to millions of literate Xhosas in the Eastern Cape. Business Report is South Africa’s largest business newspaper. Independent Online, popularly known as IOL, is Independent’s current digital offering and brings millions of readers breaking news as events happen in the country and around the world. With a growing daily unique online audience, iol.co.za is one of the largest news and information websites in South Africa.