Moe Shaik, WikiLeaks and the importance of a free media

The explosive allegations being made by News24 and City Press regarding a WikiLeaks cable which claims that spy boss Moe Shaik and President Jacob Zuma threatened to expose the “political skeletons” of Zuma’s enemies and alleges that Shaik was being cultivated by the Americans is all the proof South Africans will ever need to know that this is not the time for a debate on media freedom.

The Protection of Information Bill (POIB) and Media Appeals Tribunal (MAT) cannot be up for discussion until such time as an ANC government or an opposition party has come to power which has no compelling reasons that require suppression of information and the portfolio of state security is in the hands of someone who is — like Caesar’s wife — above suspicion.

The parties acting on behalf of the ruling party at that point in time would not have to concern themselves with material issues that they do not wish the public to know about and could focus on the merits and demerits of media interference.

The whole POIB is designed to suppress information from coming into the hands of the media and is controlled by the very department that is allegedly bedevilled with interfering in the political affairs of South Africa rather than focusing on its primary function of national security.

Whether or not Shaik confirms it or denies the allegations is, in my humble opinion, irrelevant.

What is highly relevant is the fact that the Bill is designed in a manner that allows state security to block the media from reporting on political transgressions, in the name of national security, when it is actually in the interest of national security that not only are the press allowed to report on it but that the public be made aware of it.

In this regard information via recordings made by state security suddenly found their way to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) just prior to charges being withdrawn against Zuma.

In effect the very agency to be entrusted with monitoring the POIB is playing party politics regarding an internal conflict involving the ANC and being handed the keys to lock up information — unless called for by a favoured few — and thereby controlling public opinion and the law.

The evidence or information desired being allowed out and publishing the opposition point of view is a recipe for a jail term.

With the current demographics and loyalty to the ANC by the overwhelming majority of South Africans at this point in our history the most vulnerable — as I have repeatedly said — are those within the ANC itself.

Who is currently a realistic threat to the current powers-that-be other than other members of the ANC who might want to take over the reins of power in the future?

This does not refer to an internal coup but simply, in the ordinary course of business, new ideas replacing old ones.

What if, just to use an example, Julius Malema and his ideas on nationalisation gather pace and the current thinking within the party is that this does not suit those who are in control of power?

An internal divide with national security being used as a club against the new idea while the media are suppressed?

In other words the one faction can literally do and say what they want while the other will be monitored and anything they say open to a clampdown by the POIB and MAT.

The latest allegations themselves claim that no less than former president Thabo Mbeki, Jackie Selebi, Vusi Pikoli, Mokotedi Mpshe and Frene Ginwala were targeted, which must be considered together with the fact that tapes from state security suddenly found their way to the NPA at a very convenient time politically and legally.

That is a clear indication that the issue of POIB and MAT cannot be ripe for debate in this fledgling democracy.

People need to be informed about what is going on in order to protect themselves from abuse and far too much vested interest in suppressing information exists for the debate to end up as anything other than a rubber stamping of draconian measures in order to ensure that control remains in the hands of an elite few.

POIB and National Security – Wonkie CartOOn!