“South Africa should put the freedom of its press and media at the top of its priorities as a democracy”
THE DFA has served the city of Kimberley and the Northern Cape Province since 1878, bearing news, analysis and commentary of events. In doing so it has endured wars and political upheaval, and changes of ownership.
Throughout this, it has continued to strive to abide by its mission to be a trusted platform for news and offer a diversity of views, with a special focus on the city in which it was born.
Changes over the decades have not deterred it from holding up a mirror to the society it seeks to serve.
We who work here are humbled by the responsibility of caretaking such an august title, with its special role in reflecting on and trying to advance the city, our Province and its people.
This holds true particularly now, amid a blizzard of accusations about Sekunjalo, the group that owns this newspaper, and related corporate entities, and the acrimony with which what is clearly a political agenda is being driven.
Powerful forces are at play, turning innuendo into supposed fact.
The intensity of this storm has made it necessary to state clearly how we see our role.
Nelson Mandela spoke on numerous occasions of the importance of an independent press and his words are an inspiration to all in the news media to remain true to this.
“South Africa should put the freedom of its press and media at the top of its priorities as a democracy,” Madiba said.
“None of our irritations with the perceived inadequacies of the media should ever allow us to suggest even faintly that the independence of the press should be compromised or coerced,” he said.
Our commitment to you is that the DFA will not be deterred in the commitment to strive for fair and balanced reporting as prescribed in the Press code, with the interests of the local community at the forefront of our coverage.
We will also continue to offer alternative views on this and many other issues so that you, the reader, can make up your own mind about matters of interest to you and society as a whole.
