Editors talk tough with ANC

The South African National Editors' Forum held "tense" talks with the ANC in Johannesburg yesterday about the proposed Media Appeals Tribunal.

"It was quite a tough engagement," said Sanef chairman Mondli Makhanya. "I will use the words, 'very robust'. We did have tense moments."

He said Sanef explained to the ANC, represented by spokesman Jackson Mthembu and secretary-general Gwede Mantashe, that a panel had been set up to look at how the self-regulation mechanism of the Press Ombudsman could be improved.

At the same time, the Press Council was conducting its own probe into how it could strengthen itself.

"The response [from the ANC], was that the Media Appeals Tribunal is not a done deal," said Makhanya.

The ANC said its resolution at Polokwane in December 2007 was that it would investigate the "desirability" of a Media Appeals Tribunal.

Mthembu confirmed that it was decided that more discussions should take place between the ANC and Sanef.