The Practice of Knowledge Management

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

The Practice of Knowledge Management 8 – 10 October 2007 The Forum, Bryanston, Johannesburg Democracy & Party Political Funding: Pursuing the Public’s Right to Know The Next Phase PARTY FUNDING COURT CASE BRIEFING BY IDASA Paper delivered at the Multi-Stakeholder Conference: Reflections on the State of Electoral Democracy in South Africa Conference Secretariat: Tel: +27 12 428-5700 • Fax: +27 12 428-5216 Email: [email protected] • Website: www.elections.org.za 2 The High Court Case and Appeal On 20 April 2005, the Cape High Court gave judgment, dismissing Idasa’s application to access records of private donations made to the four biggest political parties in South Africa – the ANC, the DA, the IFP and the NNP – under the Promotion of Access to Information Act 2000. Recognising however that the litigation was brought in the public interest and the importance of the principles of transparency and openness which are at stake, Justice Griesel made no order as to costs. As we said when we launched the application in November 2003, this was difficult and bold litigation, particularly given the inherent limitations of relying on the Promotion of Access to Information Act. We therefore respect the judgment of the court as both reasonable and balanced, though we believe that a more imaginative and creative Court would have adopted a wider interpretation of the section 19 right to free political choice. Justice Griesel found that access to records of private donations was not reasonably required for the exercise and protection of the section 19 right to free political choice, including the right to free and fair elections. We believe that the Constitutional Court may well have decided these issues differently and potentially have accepted our argument that for the full enjoyment of this right, the records are reasonably required so that the citizen voter can make an informed choice. We hold onto the belief that an election is only fair if the electorate can make an informed choice. Moreover, we reject narrow interpretations of section 19 because of the inherent danger that such interpretations reduce free political choice to the “event” of placing a vote in a ballot box, rather than the full process that must precede and proceed election day itself. For as Wits academic, Professor Glenda Fick points out in Idasa’s recently released assessment of the state of South African democracy, “Democracy in the time of Mbeki”: “In the absence of any legislative framework the electorate cannot know or easily obtain information on where political parties derive their funding. The electorate is therefore unable to form an opinion on the measure of influence brought to bear upon a political party Democracy & Party Political Funding: Pursuing the Public’s Right to Know IDASA 3 by a private donor. Unregulated funding to political parties creates scope for corruption on the part of politicians.” During the course of the case, the governing party, the ANC, made a number of very significant statements about legal reform. In essence, it promised to introduce legislation to regulate private donations and to ensure transparency. We see no good reason not to accept the good faith of its stated position to the Court. The ANC has persistently demonstrated its respect for the Courts and we have every confidence that it will now match its words with deeds – and that legal reform will follow soon. We are fortified in adopting this approach by the words of Justice Griesel when he noted first of all that: “[this decision] does not mean that political parties should not, as a matter of principle, be compelled to disclose details of private donations made to their coffers…[Idasa] have nevertheless made out a compelling case – with reference both to principle and comparative law – that private donations to political parties ought to be regulated by way of specific legislation in the interest of greater openness and transparency”. Noting in conclusion that Idasa had “raised matters of great public interest and concern”, it is clear that the Court relied substantially on the assertions made by the political parties, and the ANC in particular, that a legislative process is the best way to design the regulation of private donations. Like the judge, we too take seriously the assertions made by the ANC on oath (set out in more detail below) and look forward to the parliamentary process. For these reasons, and in this spirit of accepting the good faith and good intentions of the governing party, having carefully considered the judgment of Justice Griesel, Idasa has decided not to appeal. We do not abandon our assertion that the public have a constitutional right to know who privately funds political parties – far from it – but accept that Democracy & Party Political Funding: Pursuing the Public’s Right to Know IDASA 4 for the time being at least, political parties should be given a further opportunity to fill the lacuna that exists in the anti-corruption policy and legal apparatus by processing appropriate legislation through parliament. The ANC’s Position in Court The ANC sought either that Idasa’s case be dismissed or, alternatively, a stay of the proceedings “so as to allow the political and legislative process to follow the proper course necessary for the adoption of a national policy through legislation regulating the funding of political parties with the Republic of South Africa”. In its Heads of Argument, the ANC stated that “the question of regulation and control of private donor funding of political parties should be addressed and implemented through a legislative process which will embody national policy perspectives and the balancing of the rights interests of all persons, including the electorate, political parties and their donors”. This position was argued strongly in the ANC’s main affidavit, deposed by its secretary-general, Kgalema Motlanthe, when (at para 10.6.2) he accepts that the ANC is in favour of regulation of funding. He then states that the process of addressing the corruption and the “funding of political parties has already seen strides being made by South Africa’s legislature”. In addition, the ANC buttressed its argument about the political and legislative process by reference to the African Union (AU), of which South Africa is a signatory. At para 10.6, Under Article 10 of the AU Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption South Africa will be obliged to adopt legislative and other measures to “incorporate the principle of transparency into funding of political parties”. According to Motlanthe’s deposition to the Court, “Parliament will fulfill this obligation”. Later in his affidavit, Motlanthe says that in respect of the AU protocol, “I repeat that it will be implemented in this country” (para 84). The Process Now: the Next Phase Democracy & Party Political Funding: Pursuing the Public’s Right to Know IDASA 5 Going back in time to 1997, when the ANC introduced into parliament the bill that subsequently became the Public Funding of Represented Political Parties Act 1997, it is clear that the ruling party saw public funding – which is now around R70m per annum – as a key first step in protecting the democratic process. Speaking in the National Assembly, then Minister for Constitutional Development Valli Moosa said that “For political parties to perform in terms of the Constitution that is to be democratic, to be accountable and to be responsive to the people this country, we need to ensure that parties do not act merely as fronts for some or other powerful financial backer. That is a danger which our democracy could face, as other democracies have in other parts of the world. Therefore, this Bill attempts to ensure that we reduce the dependency of political parties on one or two powerful financial backers, and thereby reduce the possibility of the subversion of political parties and also the subversion of Parliament itself and of our democracy.” Sadly, Minister Moosa’s concerns about the dangers of private funding have proved not to be unfounded. Revelations in the corruption trials of Peter Marais, David Malatsi and Schabir Shaik show the on-going danger of secret, unregulated private funding of political parties. David Malatsi recently testified that he expedited approval for the Roodefontein golf estate having been “buoyed on” by a series of secret, substantial donations to the New National Party - a graphic example of the price which some private donors seek to extract from the recipient parties. Shortly afterwards, in the Schabir Shaik trial, Zweli Mkhize, gave evidence that Shaik made substantial donations to the ANC during the late 80s and early 90s. In both instances, the public received this information too late for it to be able to evaluate the impact it may have had on policy – such as the golf estate development or the notorious arms Deal – and only because of the criminal trials. Soon after the passage of the 1997 Act, Minister Moosa made it clear that he envisaged that regulation of private funding would soon follow, to complement the public funding element. Democracy & Party Political Funding: Pursuing the Public’s Right to Know IDASA 6 Eight years have gone by. Now is the time for action. It was clear to us throughout the build-up to the Court hearing, during which we conducted a rigorous exercise of consultation with all sectors and stakeholders, including the churches, unions, business and NGOs, that there is strong cross-sectoral support of the right to know principle. Ahead of the 2004 national elections, sixteen major corporations voluntarily disclosed the amount of their political donations as well as the identity of the recipients. We welcome this as a first, important step in creating a culture of accountability as regards political donations.
Recommended publications
  • Counting the Covert for Classifying Or Analysing Corruption, Which Makes the Pretoria, South Africa Interpretation of Available Information Very Difficult
    COUNT About this monograph ISS Pretoria Block C, Brooklyn Court I This monograph investigates concerns about quantifying NG THE 361 Veale Street corruption in South Africa. There is no standardised system New Muckleneuk Counting the covert for classifying or analysing corruption, which makes the Pretoria, South Africa interpretation of available information very difficult. The Tel: +27 12 346 9500 Using data to understand Fax: +27 12 460 0998 monograph puts forward a more clearly defined system C [email protected] for categorising corruption. It uses this to consider the U OVERT: corruption in South Africa circumstances in which corruption becomes visible and ISS Addis Ababa David Bruce to interpret corruption data from victimisation surveys and 5th Floor, Get House Building agencies such as the Special Investigating Unit, the South Africa Avenue African Police Service and Public Service Commission. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Tel: +251 11 515 6320 SI Fax: +251 11 515 6449 NG About the author [email protected] David Bruce is an independent researcher and writer D working in the fields of policing, crime and violence. From ISS Dakar TO UN ATA 1996 to 2011 he worked at the Centre for the Study of 4th Floor, Immeuble Atryum Violence and Reconciliation. He has a master’s degree in Route de Ouakam Dakar, Senegal public and development management from the School of Tel: +221 33 860 3304/42 Public and Development Management at the University of Fax: +221 33 860 3343 the Witwatersrand. [email protected] D ISS Nairobi ER About the ISS Braeside Gardens S The Institute for Security Studies is an African organisation off Muthangari Road TAN that aims to enhance human security on the continent.
    [Show full text]
  • Undamaged Reputations?
    UNDAMAGED REPUTATIONS? Implications for the South African criminal justice system of the allegations against and prosecution of Jacob Zuma AUBREY MATSHIQI CSVRCSVR The Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation CENTRE FOR THE STUDY OF VIOLENCE AND RECONCILIATION Criminal Justice Programme October 2007 UNDAMAGED REPUTATIONS? Implications for the South African criminal justice system of the allegations against and prosecution of Jacob Zuma AUBREY MATSHIQI CSVRCSVR The Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation Supported by Irish Aid ABOUT THE AUTHOR Aubrey Matshiqi is an independent researcher and currently a research associate at the Centre for Policy Studies. Published by the Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation For information contact: Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation 4th Floor, Braamfontein Centre 23 Jorissen Street, Braamfontein PO Box 30778, Braamfontein, 2017 Tel: +27 (11) 403-5650 Fax: +27 (11) 339-6785 http://www.csvr.org.za © 2007 Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation. All rights reserved. Design and layout: Lomin Saayman CONTENTS Acknowledgements 4 1. Introduction 5 2. The nature of the conflict in the ANC and the tripartite alliance 6 3. The media as a role-player in the crisis 8 4. The Zuma saga and the criminal justice system 10 4.1 The NPA and Ngcuka’s prima facie evidence statement 10 4.2 The judiciary and the Shaik judgment 11 5. The Constitution and the rule of law 12 6. Transformation of the judiciary 14 7. The appointment of judges 15 8. The right to a fair trial 17 9. Public confidence in the criminal justice system 18 10.
    [Show full text]
  • Governance and Corruption Parole and Sentencing
    Project of the Community Law Centre CSPRI '30 Days/Dae/Izinsuku' April CSPRI '30 Days/Dae/Izinsuku' April 2010 2010 In this Issue: GOVERNANCE AND CORRUPTION PAROLE AND SENTENCING PRISON CONDITIONS SECURITY AND ESCAPES SOUTH AFRICANS IMPRISONED ABOARD OTHER OTHER AFRICAN COUNTRIES Top of GOVERNANCE AND CORRUPTION Page Prisons to increase self sufficiency: The Minister of Correctional Services, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, is reported to be considering returning to the system in which prisoners worked on prison farms to produce food for their own consumption. According to the report, prisoners would produce their own food in future to ease pressure on the budget of the Department of Correctional Services. The department currently pays catering contractors millions of rand per year to run prison kitchens and feed prisoners. The Minister said, under the Correctional Services Act, prisoners are supposed to work but this is uncommon in South African prisons. Reported by Siyabonga Mkhwanazi, 6 April 2010, IOL, at http://www.iol.co.za/index.phpset_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=vn20100406043212436C595118 Top of PAROLE AND SENTENCING Page Court releases sick prisoner on humanitarian grounds: The Bellville Specialised Commercial Crimes Court has converted a six-year prison term of a terminally ill prisoner to one year, IOL reported. Stephen Rosen was sentenced to six years imprisonment after being convicted on 101 counts of fraud involving R1, 86 million. According to the IOL report, Magistrate Amrith Chabillal said "You need to understand that your criminal history goes against you and that it's only on humanitarian grounds that I am ruling in favour of your release from prison".
    [Show full text]
  • Brazilian Journal of Strategy & International Relations Revista
    ISSN 2238-6262 / e-ISSN 2238-6912 Brazilian Journal of Strategy & International Relations Revista Brasileira de Estratégia e Relações Internacionais Porto Alegre, v.7, n.13 | Jan./Jun. 2018 Austral Porto Alegre v.7, n.13 p. 1-323 Jan./Jun. 2018 About the Journal AUSTRAL: Brazilian Journal of Strategy and International Relations was the first Brazilian journal in the area of International Relations to be fully pub- lished in English (2012). It is an essentially academic vehicle, linked to the Brazil- ian Centre for Strategy & International Relations (NERINT) and the Doctoral Pro- gram in International Strategic Studies (PPGEEI) of the Faculty of Economics (FCE) of the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS). Its pluralist focus aims to contribute to the debate on the international political and economic order from the perspective of the developing world. The journal publishes original articles in the area of Strategy and Inter- national Relations, with special interest in issues related to developing countries and South-South Cooperation – its security problems; the political, economic and diplomatic developments of emerging countries; and their relations with the traditional powers. AUSTRAL is published semi-annually in English and Portu- guese. The journal’s target audience consists of researchers, experts, diplomats, military personnel and graduate students of International Relations. The content of the journal consists of in-depth analytical articles written by experts (Professors and Doctors), focusing on each of the great continents of the South: Asia, Latin America and Africa. Thus, the debate and diffusion of knowledge produced in these regions is stimulated. All contributions submitted to AUSTRAL are subject to rigorous scientific evaluation.
    [Show full text]
  • Afrimap SA Policy Doc.Indd 1 11/28/05 9:47:06 AM Copyright © 2005 by the Open Society Foundation for South Africa
    South Africa Justice Sector and the Rule of Law A DISCUSSION PAPER AfriMAP and Open Society Foundation for South Africa 2005 OPEN SOCIETY FOUNDATION Afrimap SA Policy doc.indd 1 11/28/05 9:47:06 AM Copyright © 2005 by the Open Society Foundation for South Africa. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form, or by any means, without the prior permission of the publisher. Published by: Open Society Foundation for South Africa ISBN: 1-920051-23-6 For more information, contact: AfriMAP Open Society Foundation 5th Floor, Cambridge House 100 Cambridge Grove London, W6 OLE, United Kingdom www.afrimap.org Open Society Foundation for South Africa Colinton House, The Oval 1 Oakdale Road Newlands, 7700, South Africa www.osf.org.za Design by: Jeanne Criscola/Criscola Design, New York Layout and printing by: comPress, South Africa Cover image: Headband, 20th century Ndebele; South Africa Glass beads, fiber 20 1/4 x 2 1/2 in. Collection of the Orlando Museum of Art, gift of Norma Canelas and William D. Roth Afrimap SA Policy doc.indd 2 11/28/05 9:47:06 AM Contents Introduction 1 I: International human rights treaties 3 II: Independence of the judiciary and the National Prosecuting Authority 7 A. Independence of the judiciary 7 B. Independence of the National Prosecuting Authority 13 III: Implementation of new laws 15 A. Improving the technical quality of new legislation 15 B. Implementation of court judgments 17 C. Specialist courts and proposed changes to the court structure 20 IV: Crime and punishment 23 A.
    [Show full text]
  • Racial Identity, Citizenship and Nation Building in Post-Apartheid South Africa
    Racial Identity, Citizenship and Nation Building in Post- Apartheid South Africa Neville Alexander Edited version of a Lecture delivered at the East London Campus University of Fort Hare 25 March 2006 Racial Identity, Citizenship and Nation Building in Post-Apartheid South Africa Introductory remarks Building a nation or promoting national unity, which is one of the historic objectives of post-apartheid South Africa as we set out to give shape to the new historical community that is evolving here, raises a whole range of issues such as the class leadership and class content of such a national(ist) movement, the nature and feasibility of social cohesion, our understanding of a multicultural polity, intercultural communication, among other things. In post-apartheid South Africa, all of these themes are at issue but because of the continued salience of the racial faultline in this social formation, I shall concentrate on the vitally important question of racial identities and what we have to do about them. Minister Mosiuoa Lekota’s comments some two years ago on the question of non- racialism1 spotlighted the troubling relationship between the policy of affirmative action and the perpetuation of racial identities in post-apartheid South Africa. The latter is one of the unintended consequences of the former, if we give the architects of the policy the benefit of the doubt, which I believe we should. Because of the vital importance of the subject for the consolidation and deepening of the democratic polity in which we live today, I believe that the Minister’s comments should spark a national debate on the question of what we mean by a non-racial, democratic South Africa.
    [Show full text]
  • South Africa's Strategic Arms Package: a Critical Analysis
    52 SOUTH AFRICA’S STRATEGIC ARMS PACKAGE: A CRITICAL ANALYSIS Justin Sylvester and Prof Annette Seegers University of Cape Town Abstract The South African government’s Strategic Arms Package (SAP), has been the largest public controversy of the post-Apartheid era. We synthesise the debates about two dimensions of the SAP, military necessity and affordability, in order to get a better understanding of civil-military relations in democratic South Africa. Our synthesis shows that the economic enthusiasm about the SAP is both naïve and an opportunity for government and dominant business and industry to wed their interests in a way that is not that different from the Apartheid era. In military terms, the SAP has equipped the South African Air Force (SAAF) and South African Navy (SAN) for the most improbable of primary missions. The equipment is also not very relevant to secondary missions. The way that the SAP decisions were reached suggests that civil-military relations are marked by the continuing impact of past compromises, corruption and the centralisation of power in the executive branch. Introduction This article 1 presents a critical analysis of the South African government’s Strategic Arms Package (SAP), commonly known as the Arms Deal. 2 In 1999, the South African government (SAG) entered into an SAP of over R29 billion. At that stage, the SAP consisted of five main contracts. The German Submarine Consortium (GSC) was to supply four submarines to the SAN at a total cost of R4 289 million. The Italian company, Augusta, was awarded the right to supply 30 utility helicopters to the SAAF at R1 532 million.
    [Show full text]
  • South Africa
    AUGUST 2006 • EMBASSY OF SWEDEN, PRETORIA Sida Country Report 2005 South Africa Contents 1. Introduction............................................................................................3 2. Political, Economic and Social Development......................................5 2.1. Political.Developments,.Governance.and.Human.Rights.............5 2.2. Macro-economic.Developments.....................................................7 2.3. Poverty.Reduction:.Status.and.Perspectives..................................9 2.4. Development.Cooperation.and.Partnerships...............................10 3. Swedish Development Cooperation – Overall Assessment of the Country Programme ..........................................................................12 3.1. Strategic.Assessments.and.Considerations...................................12 3.2. Country.Plan.2005.and.Country.Support.Strategy.2004–2008......13 4. Specific Country Programme Overview of the Swedish Development Cooperation..................................................................14 4.1. Follow-up.of.the.Country.Programme.........................................15 5. Office and Administrative Issues........................................................24 Annex 1: Key Facts and Figures..............................................................25 Annex 2: Outcome and Forecast (L109)................................................26 Published by Sida 2006 Department for Africa Author: Embassy of Sweden, Pretoria Printed by Edita Communication AB, 2006 Art. no.: SIDA30410en
    [Show full text]
  • The Case of the Schabir Shaik Trial Patience Thembeka
    Conformity in the selected print media content as a threat to democracy: The case of the Schabir Shaik trial Patience Thembeka Ntuli June 2010 Prof Nixon Kariithi (Supervisor) A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Humanities, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfilment of the Degree of Master of Arts in Journalism and Media Studies . i DECLARATION I declare that this research report submitted for the degree of Master of Arts in Journalism and Media Studies at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg is my own original work and has not been submitted to any other institution of higher education or for any examination in any form. I further declare that all sources cited or quoted are indicated and acknowledged by means of a comprehensive list of references. ………………………….. ……………………………. Patience Thembeka Ntuli Date Copyright University of the Witwatersrand 2010 . ii ACKOWLEDGEMENTS To my God, thank you, Lord, for always keeping your promise of “never leaving nor forsaking me” throughout the time of writing this thesis. Lord, this is once again the living testimony that you are God. Thank you for allowing me to continue to enjoy your blessings, everlasting love and protection. I wish to extend my heartfelt gratitude to my supervisor, Prof Nixon Kariithi, for his continued support and encouragement throughout this challenging period and for ensuring that I complete this project. Prof, without your expertise and experience, this project would never have seen the light. I am indebted to my employer, College of Human Sciences UNISA, for all the study leave, financial support and encouragement. Special thanks must go to Professor Mokgethi Motlhabi; Professor Rosemary Moeketsi; Professor Kuzvinetsa Dzvimbo; Professor Greg Curbertson and Professor Oupa Mashile.
    [Show full text]
  • T R a N S a T I
    FT RO A R N M S A T I O N CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON SOUTHERN AFRICA 58 THIS ISSUE: KRISTA JOHNSON ON POST-NATIONALIST POLITICS IN SOUTHERN AFRICA SUSAN PARNELL ON THE CHALLENGE OF INCLUDING THE POOR IN THE POST-APARTHEID CITY DAVID M SMITH ON THE (IM)POSSIBILITY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE IN SOUTH AFRICA SHAUN RUGGUNAN ON SOUTH AFRICAN SEAFARERS IN THE MERCHANT NAVY REVIEW ARTICLES BY JEREMY GREST AND THEMBISA WAETJEN TRANSFORMATION critical perspectives on Southern Africa ISSN 0258-7696 IBSS listed journal EDITORS: John Daniel (HSRC), Shirley Brooks, Bill Freund, Gerhard Maré, Lindy Stiebel, Imraan Valodia (University of KwaZulu-Natal). CORRESPONDING EDITORS: Adam Habib (HSRC), Keith Breckenridge, Monique Marks, Mike Morris, Vishnu Padayachee (University of KwaZulu-Natal), Debbie Posel (University of the Witwatersrand), David Kaplan, Mary Simons (University of Cape Town). INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATE EDITORS: Henry Bernstein, Colin Bundy (SOAS, University of London), Gillian Hart (University of California), Mahmood Mamdani (Columbia University), Martin Murray (SUNY Binghamton), Dan O'Meara (University de Quebec à Montreal), Terence Ranger (retired), John Saul (retired), Elling N Tjønneland (Christian Michelsen Institute, Norway), Gavin Williams (University of Oxford). PUBLICATION GUIDELINES: We ask contributors to submit two (2) typed copies, following the format (on such issues as references and notes) of articles in this issue of TRANSFORMATION. Whilst the journal will cater for work at any level of abstraction, or detail, a number of criteria will guide the editors in selection of material for inclusion. Articles should aim for academic rigour but also clarify the political implications of the issues discussed. We are concerned not to compete with other South African journals that may cover related ground but in different ways – this will govern our selection principles.
    [Show full text]
  • The Profile and Manifestation of Moral Decay in South African Urban Community
    HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies ISSN: (Online) 2072-8050, (Print) 0259-9422 Page 1 of 12 Original Research The profile and manifestation of moral decay in South African urban community Author: South Africa in which we are living is characterised by unparalleled social and political change 1 Motshine A. Sekhaulelo and apparently enormous differences of option. However, there is one aspect of our society that Affiliation: most of us would probably agree about and that is the decline of morality in our cities. Apart 1Department of Systematic from the economic and political crisis, and the erosion of the core competence to actually get and Historic Theology, things done in the municipalities, South Africa is an ailing society with disturbing pathologies Faculty of Theology and Religion, University of in terms of indiscipline, violence, rape, assault, fraud and a failure to accept personal Pretoria, Tshwane, accountability for the high levels of crime, corruption, xenophobic attacks, gender-based South Africa violence and disintegration of families. The main aim of this study is to outline the profile of moral decay in the South African urban community and to define the calling of the Church Research Project Registration: Project Leader: W. Fourie towards moral regeneration. The conclusion arrived at is that there are definite signs of moral Project Number: 04497849 degeneration over a wide sphere of human endeavour in South African urban community, and that the church has a particular role to play as a driving agent for moral renewal. Description: Dr Sekhaulelo is participating Contribution: Whilst there are many postive things brought by urbanisation in our cities, in the research project, ‘Social ethics for regions in however, moral decay in our South African cities is one of the biggest threats to South Africa’s flux’, directed by Dr Willem hard earned, freedom and democracy and merits closer attention.
    [Show full text]
  • 77X OJJ TABANE FINAL THESIS AS of 25 APRIL 2020 (1).Pdf
    BRIDGING THE GAP: AN ANALYSIS OF THE COMPLICATED RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GOVERNMENT AND THE MEDIA 23 YEARS INTO DEMOCRACY Onkgopotse JJ Tabane [Student Number: 953116] Thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Philosophy in the Department of Media Studies University of the Witwatersrand Supervisor: Professor Glenda Daniels APRIL 2020 RESEARCH QUESTION: HOW DO MEDIA AND GOVERNMENT RELATIONS AFFECT GOVERNMENT COMMUNICATIONS AND HOW CAN BRIDGES BE BUILT BETWEEN THEM? DECLARATION I declare that this is my original work and all information contained herein is to my knowledge accurate and correctly attributed where relevant. 1 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I wish to thank the following people who supported me in the pursuit of this PhD: My wife, Innocent Nonhlanhla Xaba, for your unwavering support over the years and your unconditional love. My parents, Helen and Mathew Tabane, for bringing me up to be resilient. My siblings, Dr Keorapetse Tabane and Gabaiphiwe Tabane, for your unflinching support. My supervisor, Professor Glenda Daniels, for your insightful and scholarly guidance to complete the project through its challenges. My former producer at Power 987, Bongekile Skosana, for letting me ‘abuse your show’ to experiment. My research assistant, Ms Nompumelelo Runji. My friend, Dr Dithoto Modungwa, for spiritual encouragement throughout the journey. Special thanks to Phindile Xaba, Claudia Boffard and Lomile Mokoka for your assistance in editing this PhD and preparing it for final submission. 2 ABSTRACT This study examines the complex relationship between the media and the government in South Africa during 23 years of democracy, from 1994 to 2017. It analyses the evolution of such relations during this post-apartheid period, examining the perceived tensions between the media and the government.
    [Show full text]