11 October 2002
Today’s Mail and Guardian published an edited version of the discussion paper on neo-liberalism written by the ANC Political Education Unit and an edited version of my reply thereto despite the fact that I did not intend my reply for publication.
The Mail and Guardian did not bother to consult or check with me in this regard. This is unethical conduct for any media institution. It continues on the mischievous trend started by the Sunday Times front page article on the same internal discussion in the ANC. The Sunday Times essentially conducted itself in the same way as the Mail and Guardian and had the decency to grudgingly concede in its article that my reply was not meant for publication.
Organisations must be able to conduct internal debate without undue interference and unethical behaviour from sections of the media. Such behaviour will have the effect to shut down any space for such debate and undermines internal organisational democracy.
Issued by Jeremy Cronin – Deputy General Secretary, South African Communist Party (SACP), Member of the National Executive Committee of the ANC
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Mazibuko K. Jara (surname Jara)
Department of Media, Information & Publicity
South African Communist Party
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Email - mazibuko@sacp.org.za