Morgan Phaahla, Ekurhuleni: The call by the African National Congress for the establishment of an independent media tribunal to deal specifically with unethical journalism in this country is long overdue.

We cannot continue to allow a situation where a former journalist is paid by the media to adjudicate on matters affecting itself in the public interest. Only the independent self-regulatory system has proved not only to be biased but defective as it serves interests of the media at the expense of society's morality.

The complaints of journalists over-stepping the mark and publishing allegations without taking reasonable steps to verify any accuracy have fallen on deaf ears because the ombudsman is not only uncomfortable with tackling former colleagues, but reluctant to bite the hand that feeds him.

This illustrates a dearth of journalistic ethics, and shows the loopholes in the system itself. It's for this reason that media endorse a call for an independent zero-fault system to deal with corrupt journalists and editors susceptible to "brown envelopes" in order to champion a certain political agenda.

This includes those playing a part in narrow factional interests to catapult conspiracy theories, publishing diabolical allegations and gossip about individuals without the slightest care for their reputation, dignity or standing in society.

I do not know why there is such a resistance against the tribunal when its existence will harmonise the current system of self-regulation to help media regain its lost credibility and dignity in society.

Put simply, the media have abused this system for too long and entrenched guilty verdicts reached in the court of public opinion as normal practice.

The SACP must be applauded for its resounding resolution to mandate its delegation to the forthcoming ANC national general council to raise this matter and ask for measures to be urgently put in place to create such an independent media tribunal.

Now is the time to put an end to the cynical agenda of the media to impose its own right to inform the public with distorted news and stories fraught with falsehoods, all driven by profit and desire to up sales. The tribunal remains the only way forward.