The meeting will be attended by Manyi and members of cabinet, Chabane's spokesperson Harold Maloka said.
The ANC-led government, which has been bickering with the independent media over a number of critical issues during the Mbeki administration, is seen to be taking and planning a series of radical and provocative measures to counter what it sees as a clear and present danger to its 'eternal' rule.
Proposed anti-media-freedom measures
These measures include, among others, the proposed media appeals tribunal (MAT), the Protection of Information Bill (Secrecy Bill), and lately Manyi's proposed government's centralised media-buying strategy, which will allegedly starve anti-government publications of state advertising spend.
SANEF chairman Mondli Makhanya was quoted this week as saying that the relationship between Government and the media was headed for rock bottom. "The relationship cannot be undone by one man," he said, referring to Manyi.
The ANC Youth League said this week it fully supports Manyi, stating that the media was committed to false reporting and spreading lies about the ANC-led government, according to news reports.
Not confined to Zuma administration
Wits University senior lecturer Lesley Cowling told Bizcommunity.com this week that the relationship between the media and government has had its ups and downs since the Mbeki presidency, and that the antagonism was not confined to the Zuma administration. She said the ANC-proposed idea of a media tribunal dates from 2007, before Polokwane - meaning before Zuma became ANC president and head of state.
"Before that, the ANC through its website accused the commercial media of representing the 'elite opinion' and wanting to set the terms of public discussion.
"I think the proposed Protection of Information Bill is an unfortunate step away from the principles of transparency and freedom of information that have been part of our system of governance since the first democratic elections in 1994. However, I think that they could be challenged in the Constitutional Court.
"More difficult to challenge"
"More difficult to challenge is the way in which government parcels out its advertising spend. As the commercial media is dependent on advertising for its survival, withholding advertising from publications critical of government threatens their survival," Cowling concluded.
Meanwhile, Kader Asmal (76), an ANC member, former education minister and university professor, died yesterday, Wednesday 22 June, after a heart attack. Asmal was a fierce critic of the proposed Protection of Information Bill, aka Secrecy Bill.
The Right2Know campaign received a mail from Asmal earlier this month, calling for the bill to be scrapped altogether and be rewritten by an independent body.
According the organisation, Asmal argued that the bill's current form is so deeply flawed that mere 'tinkering' will not bring it in line with SA's constitutional values.
Bizcommunity.com extends condolences to Asmal's family, friends and colleagues.
