[IMFSA] Xenophobia threatens progressive society - Pahad

Essop Pahad, Minister in the Presidency, was first up at the prestigious International Media Forum in South Africa today, Wednesday 21 May 2008. Addressing local and international media gathered in Johannesburg he urged condemnation in the strongest terms of the xenophobic acts which had led to death and destruction. “We need to understand it… xenophobia poses a great threat to a progressive society. We would not be here today if it was not for the tremendous sacrifices made by our brothers and sisters in our neighbouring states. This has no place in a democratic society.”

A government task team is busy investigating as a matter of urgency, he said. One can’t help get the feeling there is so much being unsaid amongst the rhetoric. Much public sentiment on blogs and other media forums, radio stations and so on, is angry and sad and the perception is that individuals and private charities seem to be pitching in more than the government institutions that should be tasked with this kind of emergency, with 22 000 displaced people sheltering at our suburban police stations and churches in Gauteng. Where is our government directed emergency response? It’s a great pity we’re not seeing more of our leaders out there on the ground trying to sort things out. There’s a feeling of ‘too little, too late’… What if this was an earthquake or a cyclone? Would the response be as delayed?

And this is what this forum is all about: public perception, media opinion, and in this case, specifically international opinion informed by the media and how to deal with that. IMFSA is here to have top local and international journalists address Government and communicators on our image abroad and how to manage international perception over the next two days. All this, of course, is the context of a week rocked by xenophobic violence which has left South Africans stunned and horrified and the international media community aghast at the brutality taking place on the streets as immigrants are driven out of their homes.

Pahad started off speaking about the shortcomings of journalism (hasty, instantaneous, shoddy…), quoting someone else of course, and the media’s reporting responsibility: “As they say… journalism is the first draft of history…” He also reiterated the fact that freedom of expression was protected by the constitution and an “unshakable tenant of our democracy”. He made a point that media freedoms are intrinsic to democracy, while giving veiled warnings about the responsibility and accountability of a free media in the execution of their craft.

Apart from global influences, it was incumbent upon us, he said, to look at the changing forces shaping our environment and come up with solutions to adequately meet those challenges. He made some observations relevant to South Africa which he wanted the forum to take note of:

1. We are a stable, established democratic state which offers the permanent prospect of universal free and fair elections.
2. South Africa has managed peaceful change in ruling party leadership which is comparable to anywhere in the world. A new administration will be in place next year and there will be a seamless change which will do our country proud. Out term limit will be adhered to.
3. The ANC is committed to policy… to continue our path to a powerful democratic state, economically stable and committed to services delivery.
4. As a government and as a society, we condemn in the strongest terms the xenophobic acts which have led to death and destruction. We need to understand it. A government task team is to investigate as a matter of urgency. Xenophobia poses the greatest threat to progressive society, Pahad reiterated: “We would not be here today if it would not be for the tremendous sacrifices made by our brothers and sisters in our neighbouring states… It has no place in a democratic society.”
5. Electricity: broader task team convened to present a report in next few dates. We will rise to the challenge and response to short term goals will turn into long term successes.
6. One of great global divides is poverty. The world’s richest 50 people earned more than the world’s 460 million poorest people. If this is not obscene, I don’t know what is. He highlighted Govt’s economic successes.
7. We are on track with 2010 preparations, despite some media reports. We are going to host a most successful world cup.

He urged the foreign media here to take time to travel around and get to know the “ vibrant South Africa”.