Pick n Pay Stores chairman Gareth Ackerman joined the debate on press freedom yesterday, saying South African business should take seriously President Jacob Zuma's invitation for an open debate about the role of the media and its alignment with the Constitution.

"Pick n Pay recognises there is a close link between economic and political freedom. The economic freedom on which business depends flourishes best when citizens are able to rely on an unfettered flow of information that is free from excessive government control and regulation," he said.

To the extent that the Protection of Information Bill and the proposed media appeals tribunal threaten that freedom, all sectors of South African society are justified in opposing them, he said.

"The business sector should not believe itself exempt from this duty of responsible citizenship, and we thus have no hesitation in adding our voices to those who have expressed their misgivin gs about the consequences of the governing party's proposals," Ackerman said.

He said any attempt by the government to restrict the free flow of information or to circumscribe the liberty of the media should be opposed.

Meanwhile, Business Leadership SA, an association of 80 heads of South Africa's largest companies, on Tuesday added its voice to the raging debate, and said the tribunal would be a mistake.

"The idea of a statutory body, created by law, and appointed by the political executive, raises the prospect of a media answerable to political bosses," the body said in a statement after its council meeting. It said tension between media and politics was necessary.

The African National Congress has suggested that Parliament investigate the possibility of a statutory tribunal to regulate the print media. This will be discussed at its national general council next month.

Tuesday's meeting, at which the decision to oppose the tribunal was taken, was attended by the chief executives of major companies.

BLSA's members comprise the top 50 companies on the JSE, major unlisted companies and state-owned companies.

These companies account for 80% of the corporate taxes paid in South Africa.

Earlier this week a body representing major media houses in the US has sent a letter to Zuma urging him to shelve legislative proposals that would "severely restrict" South African media.

The committee - consisting of leading media houses, including NBC News, the New York Times and the Washington Post - was responding to the ANC's proposal about the bill.