Special Hearings — Media Hearings — UNKNOWN

ADV POTGIETER: Well, thank you.  Can I wrap up just by asking you if there are any, sort of, specific recommendations that you would want to make in order to improve the, in general, the situation of the media against the, sort of, experience that you came from?  If you have some that you can think of now, perhaps, you can share it with us.  Otherwise, if you want to consider it, you can also let us have it subsequently.

MIKE TISSONG: I would say that we have discussed this kind of problem before and the Black Editors Forum and through the South African National Editors Forum, as well, we have discussed the problem of the high centralisation of the media in white hands.  That there should be diversification of the media and it will be my recommendation to the TRC, with specific regard to the media question, for further diversification of the media and, also, some sort of programme where blacks are trained and promoted in these structures, so that there is not only capital control of media houses, but there is also operational control of these media houses.

ADV POTGIETER: Well, thank you very much.  I have got no further questions.  I am going hand back to the Chair.

CHAIRPERSON: Hlengiwe Mkhize?

UNKNOWN: Thank you.  Just one quick question.  Do you think it is necessary to think seriously about the inclusion of women in the media industry?

MIKE TISSONG: This is a question that we have wrestled with quite a lot in the media and, in fact, I think if we, who are operationally involved in the media, have to follow this  up more seriously, our newspapers would actually grow in terms of circulation with greater involvement of women.  I think it is our view that there should be a greater involvement of women in the media.  Not only in terms of the generation of stories, but also in terms of executive control of the media.  I do not know if I have answered your question.

CHAIRPERSON: Hugh Lewin.

MR LEWIN: Just one brief question, Mr Chairman.  Going back to, for instance, the Duduza story and the way it was covered and carried by the paper, would you say that the way in which it was covered was evidence of the media helping to make that sort of thing possible?

MIKE TISSONG: I would say yes, because by not exposing some of the atrocities that the security forces of the time were involved in and, in fact, having these censored and watered down was depriving the South African community as a whole of the truth of what was actually going on in the townships. I think that the Duduza case actually illustrates the particular problem.

MR LEWIN: And would you have said that that was widespread and fairly common?

MIKE TISSONG: I would say that was widespread and fairly common, not only at The Star, but other newspapers in The Argus group and The Sun at the time and the Afrikaner media houses, the SABC as well, but that was a given, I would say.

CHAIRPERSON: Well, Mike, it remains for me to thank you for having come and to, also, express my feeling of warmth at the fact that upward mobility has been possible for you, as a person, and which would be a fair indication that things have not really stood where they have been.  You will know, particularly, that when in 1987 we met in the US, funny thing for people to meet outside South Africa for the first time, and we talked about these problems, you were still just a reporter.  I do not know whether that was before or after Zero-Zero Hour and I only hope it was after your friend who had abandoned you, took the occasion to come and meet you at Washington DC when we were there.  Thank you very much.

MIKE TISSONG: Okay, thank you.

CHAIRPERSON: I do not know whether the next deponent is here, Thami Mazwai.  And Jon Qwelane?  Yes, no, I was, I saw Don, but I just wanted to make sure that the two that were coming up, oh yes, yes.  I do not know if Jon Qwelane is ready, I mean Don Mattera is ready.  I could take him at this hour.
FORUM OF BLACK JOURNALISTS

CHAIRPERSON: (Not translated).

DON MATTERA: (Not translated).

CHAIRPERSON: Mr Mattera, welcome, and very good morning.  I will ask Denzil Potgieter to administer an oath before he leaves, which is what he is just about to do.

DON MATTERA: I see.  Well, I am a Muslim by my faith and I do not take the oath, I attest to the truth or rather the truth that I will speak, because there are many forms of truth, particularly in this beleaguered country.

CHAIRPERSON: You will take, you will make an affirmation?

DON MATTERA: Yes, I make an affirmation, I attest to the truth rather than take the oath.

ADV POTGIETER: That is fine.  Then we will administer an affirmation, Mr Mattera.

DON MATTERA: Thank you, Sir.

ADV POTGIETER: But for that purpose you will, unfortunately, still have to rise ... (intervention).

DON MATTERA: I still have to rise?

ADV POTGIETER: ... and formally take it.  Yes.

DON MATTERA: Okay.

DON MATTERA: (Duly sworn in, states).

ADV POTGIETER: Thank you very much, you may be seated.

CHAIRPERSON: Once again, let me say welcome and I am the one who has to facilitate your submission.

DON MATTERA: I understand, Sir.

CHAIRPERSON: I do not know whether I must hope against hope that there is a poem to mark this occasion lurking somewhere in your submission, but if it is not there, well, I will understand.

DON MATTERA: I am sure it will come when the feeling arouses it.

CHAIRPERSON: Shall I then allow you to make your presentation in the way in which you had planned ... (intervention).

DON MATTERA: Yes.

CHAIRPERSON: ... to make it.