27 April commemorates the day in 1994 when the first democratic election was held in South Africa. South Africa celebrates Freedom Day to mark the liberation of the former British colony and its people from a long period of colonialism and White minority domination. On this day, millions of black South African stood on long queues in order to elect its 1st ever democratically elected government, with Nelson Mandela at the fore. While the right to freedom is enjoyed by many in and around the world, there has been numerous allegations that the media was used as a machinery to promote propaganda. In the recent past we have heard of issues like how Stratcom an apartheid propaganda propeller was using some media and journalist to discredit anti-apartheid activists, one of whom is the late Mama-Winnie Mandela. So today we ask: Has the media really achieved its freedom?
To help us unpack the discussion for the day, we are joined by:
Joe Tlholoe Veteran Journalist Executive Director: Press Council
Eric Chinge CEO African Media Initiative
Mahlatse Gallens Chairperson SANEF
