RIGHT OF THE MEDIA?

The question of wheatear the ability of media and the responsibility they have to society and especially being the watch dog for government has been in the limelight.   The question of the leadership of Jacob Zuma has been in discussed from 2006 right through 2010, from his sexual relationship and the problem of him having more one wife but in the real essences we are not focusing on the president but on how to hand the situation of the media.

Just last year the government offered the proposal to regulaurite media in the country. If this is successful it would mean that the media will have to check with the state before publishing any publication material wheatear in newspaper, radio and television.  Of course this will reduce the full ability to be a journalist in this country.

Now some people would not understand the role of the media in our country. The media is there to act as a watchdog and also be a voice to those whom cannot be heard.  They keep people of government in check and bring forward issues that would not usually be brought in front for attention. Think about if it was not for the media, this country will still be living in apartheid environment and the fruits of our democracy would not have been and still be enjoying. Nelson Mandela would have not gain for much international support if we did not have the media reporting and telling the world about his political   ideologies.

South Africa is a democratic country with a constitution which has a bill of rights that makes provisions for the rights of citizens as well as institutions. These are the same rights that protect and guarantee the media from censorship. Freedom of the press and other media is protected by Section 16(1) of the constitution and grants everyone the right to freedom of expression, including the freedom to receive or impart information or ideas. These are fundamental rights to democracy and they are the basis of a democratic nation.

The right to freedom of the media has also been interpreted as protecting the ‘tools of the trade’ that are integral to various forms of media. Our courts have also recognized the special role that the media play as agents of expression and protectors of democracy: ‘In a system of democracy dedicated to openness and accountability, as ours is, the especially important role of the media, both publicly and privately owned, must in  view be recognized. The success of our constitutional venture depends upon full-bodied criticism of the exercise of power. This requires alert and critical citizens. But strong and independent newspapers, journals and broadcast media are needed also, if those criticisms are to be effectively voiced, and if they are to be informed with the factual content and critical perspectives that investigative journalism may provide.

South African media is not as hush as the international media but in the past years it has been tough on certain individuals for example when President Jacob Zuma was in trail for rape, the media had already gave him a verdicted which was guilty, even after he was found innocent the media still printed me as a rapist and highlighted the fact that South Africa might have a rapist as a president.

If you can remember the late Manto Tshabalala who was the Minister of Health. The media reported a story about her in the Sunday Times about the fact she drinks and smokes and jumped the line of people wanting donors because she is in a higher position. A journalist broke in the hospital where she was and stole her medical documents to verify the story and exposed her to the public nationally. Now this is very good journalism but one cannot agree that it was and still is unethical because if a journalist can break and go through your medical documents and expose you for whatever reason, could our national security be in danger? I mean in my opinion there should be things that they government does not share to the media because powerful information in words can be more dangerous than a gun or a bomb. On the other side the public had the right to know about Manto Tshabalala because she is a public figure whom is in government therefore all she does is taken seriously like if she says as a minister of health tells you to stop drinking because it does not do you any good, people will take that seriously because she is a personal in the health sector therefore whatever information she brings forward must be true.

Question of why the government would want to regulate the media is very important because we need to question of this intention. Is the government hiding something that they do not want the public to know and if so what is it? Does it have the potential to destroy or endanger the people of our country? 

At the same time the media do report on things that put people in danger and even destroy the reputation in society, so if the government is taken in to question by the media for its dealings, who will put and check the media do they job correct and if no who will they have to answer to? In an article done by the Mail and Guardian reporting on what the ANCYL President Julius Malema called,” Malema: 'The media think they are untouchable”. There Malema makes comments about the media not having their facts straight when reporting a story and putting inncent people in danger referring to his situation and he said  the media had put him and his family's lives in danger after the death of AWB leader Eugene Terre'blanche by suggesting that "Malema's songs had contributed" to the murder incident.

In some way it is understandable why he would say because blaming someone for such an act and saying he is responsible for the death of Eugene Terrblance is not right in some way but he is the person that spiked the incident. 

The needs to be an understanding between the government and the media if we want this situation between them to be solved. The media should not be regulated because that will decrease the full ability of the media and the right of freedom and expression will be just a fairytale we tell our children.

Dont Hate,Appreciate ......

As across most of Africa, when hip hop first came to South Africa many youths simply imitated what they saw and heard from American hip hop artists. But South Africa, unlike the rest of the continent, was in the throes of apartheid, and the hip hop revolution that gripped the United States inspired thousands of South African youth fighting their own revolution. The lyrics of American groups like Public Enemy and their song "Fight the Power" had a special resilience among South African youth.

Now according to me South African hip hop is on high thanks to two artists in my opinion, Khuli Chana and AKA and of course with the help of one of the country’s hottest producers IV League. These people have done all what needs to be done to save the hip hop industry from hell (pun intended)  not only do they realize the genre is a money making business but also have mastered the art of swagg( hip hop lingo for fashionable or stylish).

These boys have not only gave me another reason to buy cd’s again but have also erased the stigma that South African Rappers are the sidekicks of the likes of Jay Z and Tupac to name a few.

Khuli Chana also better known as The Motswak originator is the album title of Khuli Chana’s first offering and was released in 2009. On this album, he brings through a distinctive sound and formula. The concept is about bringing back the show; the energy; creativity; stage; lights; and quality performance that are out of the ordinary. This project is already receiving a very positive and overwhelming response and is already a success with Khuli Chana working with some of the hottest producers in the game. He worked with the likes of: TowdeeMac and Kay-G of Morafe fame; IV League; Octave Couplet and Jazz Worx. The lyicals are on point and he runs away from the usual concept of rapping about girls, drugs and sex on better how good you are in the bedroom. (Nam I don’t know why but ke it’s that).

Moving on to AKA, now this boy ain’t a stranger to the hip hop scene, he boast into the scene while in high school with a group called Entity although the boys never received much hype but you could sense they are going on the right direction.

His album is out of this world and his flows have a certain hard-headed attitude that suit his image and target market, perfect for a club scene and that slow Sunday groove. Ewe AKA is going place and I put my trust in him and Khuli to fly high and create a platform bigger than they imagined.

MISUNDERSTOOD

Media coverage on public health hospitals in the Nelson Mandela Bay have left majority of professional nurses in the region outraged. Nurses at the Provincial Hospital in P.E state the media has always reported one side, leaving no consideration of getting their side of the matter. Quality care and service is always a serious concern of medical and nursing professional.

Although the state contributes about 40% of all expenditure on health, the public health sector is under pressure to deliver services to about 80% of the population. Despite this, most resources are concentrated in the private health sector, which sees to the health needs of the remaining 20% of the population. Public health consumes around 11% of the government's total budget, which is allocated and spent by the nine provinces. How these resources are allocated, and the standard of health care delivered, varies from province to province.

Nurses in the public sector experiencing matter that are beyond their line of duty for example Nurses are expected to train student nurses and asset them with practical’s as well as serving patients who are in need of health services.  Dr. W Maqqgi who is the Senior Medical Superintendent says the biggest problem by far is funding and short stuff. “People expect us to deliver and with the human right that is true but we as professionals expect the government to fund us with every equipment possible but sadly that is not true.”

South Africa is very popular in the international community for doctors and nurses which puts a great disadvantage not only to the hospitals but also the patients. Many nurses including doctors leave the country not because the want to but because of the better working conditions other countries provide like reasonable salaries and great communication with the management and government.  Mrs. Moss who is the Head of Department in the Nurses division says the shortage of staff with a subsequent increase in workload for the remaining nursing staff, negatively impacts on the delivery of patient care and increase the level of job dissatisfaction.

It is time to put a stop on blaming who did this and who did not do that, the less we complain and start working together the better our health services will be in future.