Top marks to South Africa’s Chief Justice Pius Langa for coming in to bat for the independence of the media and the important role the judiciary can play in this regard.
Last Sunday he said that the judiciary should “jealously protect” the media and their right to free expression, because both the media and the judiciary are critical to the country: they play a central role in keeping our government in check and holding it accountable for the exercise of its mighty powers.
In his typically modest fashion, Judge Langa also admitted that judges, though they try very hard to deliver justice in an imperfect world, are also imperfect creatures and therefore need critical media that are not overly respectful.
Against a backdrop of renewed efforts by the ANC post-Polokwane to place checks on the media (through the suggested tribunal) and controls on the judiciary (through the minister’s powers under the Superior Courts Bill), the chief justice’s comments are timeous and most welcome.
While the chief justice normally prefers to work behind the scenes to protect the independence of the judiciary — as he did when the Superior Courts Bill was first published a couple of years ago — the fact that he has gone public is perhaps a measure of his concern about the new perceived threats!
With a champion like the chief justice there is some hope for the media and the judiciary that the ANC’s renewed attempts at control may be thwarted.
More strength to your elbow, Chief Justice Langa!
It’s people of the calibre of Chief Justice Langa that give me hope for the future of this country. Unfortunately very few good men and women are brave enough to voice their opinions for fear of recrimination from the ignorant slobs who have somehow found themselves in high office. The more we remain silent the worse things will become. Look north and learn.
So many whites tell us that it is only those of European decent who are challenging the despots in our country. This is just patently not true! Many of the greatest acts of defiance were from those courageous people of colour had so much more to loose yet were prepared to stake it all on what was right. In true ANC style, the party (and the state) then punished the innocent.
Well done Honourable Judge Langa, well done!!!
(I just hope the ANC doesn’t threaten to cut the Judiciary budget as punishment).
I salute all those amazing people of our country who have stood up to the present political tyranny.
“Evil flourishes when good men do nothing”, Anon
Judge Langa makes an even more important point than media freedom: the fallibility of decision-makers.
While he spoke specifically about judges, the same “imperfect” applies to central-planners and economists. Eskom is an example of the fallibility of the ANC’s stalinist instincts. The unfortunate history of the former Socialist empire is evidence of this.
Implicit in the “judgement” discourse is the question of risk: opponents of the death penalty, for instance, cite the risk of a bad decision (its irreversibility), while the portfolio risk of central planning (all eggs in one basket) means if the planners get it wrong…
Then too, human frailty means that “all power corrupts…” and hubris (the pride/arrogance that comes before a fall) and intolerance seem to be inherent risks of centralised power, too (think Zim, Polowane…).
So does that make the Chief Justice irrelevant to the needs of the masses? Does this imply that the Chief Justice is in suport of the white media’s attempts to suppress black empowerment? The Chief should make up his mind about which side he should be taking.
it depends on who is on the receiving end.It is easy when it is the ANC who is being targeted, but difficult to apply it across aboard. The Media is polluting our environment under the guise of Media-Freedom.Anything is available everywhere.Judge Moseneke said something on Polokwane which if he was in the USA he would have been ‘forced’ to look for a job somewhere.There was a celebrartion because it was focused on JZ and the NEC and ANC. All under the guise of ‘Freedom’.It is so frustrating and really stressing to read/watch media today in our country.India is suffering the same cruch.Republican are ‘creative’ hence all is sensured.
Liansky…..you’re lucky this blog doesn’t have a moron filter. It’s not a matter of sides. It’s a matter of integrity. Go and play in the traffic…..
David makes the mistake of overlooking some of the pontential solutions available.Hi views are on fighting through the media and exposing all ANC pitfalls.’Dirty’ linen will not bring sense in to the current chaos.We are bringing a new culture for generations after we are gone.So we need to rather encourage the good behavior and trust amongst ourselves and the children who are young.These things should steer our children towards making positive contribution and not retribution against Govt.They will misbehave and be very belligrent.I am not condoning any wrongs.Seeds ‘sown’ by the media,(all media) are watering down all our values as a nation.’Free Media is bringing us Nudity, wars, booze, immorality, promiscuity etc.Can the media assist build this country!! David we like your column a lot but you can make a better contribution through building this nation than your current approach. approach.
It is through an independent system of courts and a vigilant media, free to ask the hard questions of the leadership that we can defend and extend democracy. It is not about matter which side you are on. Ultimately everyone loses if the courts and the press are subservient to the government.
A very short and not so informative accord. A link in the form of a PDF document or website where Judge Langa’s comments are clearly visible would have been substantial to the gratitude that Shiela aims to achieve. I must say that it has been quite long since Shiela has written on Thought Leader and this short thanks would have been received if the judge had received it as a sincere e-mail and not as a public account.
Shiela I expect more from you and I hope that you will deliver. I am unimpressed –to say the least- about the quality of work that you have produced. I hope that your future drafts on T/Leader will be of the standard that we as T/Leader readers have been accustomed to.