SA JOURNALISTS AREN’T AS INDEPENDENT AND PROFESSIONAL AS THEY THINK THEY ARE

Response to Letter from the Editor, 1 April

The media has uncovered corruption and dysfunction and let’s hope it continues. But let’s be mindful of agendas and problems in the industry before fulsomely praising it as Heather Robertson does in her piece.

Coincidentally, I was just thinking about how the media was silent a few years ago about an incident implicating the highest Western Cape government officials and politicians in colluding to cover up the suspicious, “unnatural causes” death of an elderly state hospital patient.

When alerted to one general aspect of the incident that had implications for all the province’s state patients, GroundUp did not cover the story.

Daily Maverick also gave the Western Cape health department a clean bill of health. But a casual review of the department’s headline financial figures showed that in at least one thing officials had lied to the public and the Western Cape legislature.

That was one event. While the SA media is doing some good, it’s not as independent and professional as it thinks it is.

Old-style investigative journalism is almost gone. Now there’s opinion and, when there’s news reporting, it seems that the wall between news and opinion has blurred.

I’ve lost confidence in SA media.

Thomas Johnson

Responses to In John they trust,

1 April

Who actually runs the DA: Helen Zille or John Steenhuisen? Johan Buys

To John Steenhuisen detractors: I have had the pleasure of meeting him and I can tell you without question that he is an intelligent man who cares deeply about South Africa and all its people. The DA is in good hands – and the DA is the only sensible voting choice if you want a country that works.

Ricky Rocker

Mpho Phalatse’s speech sealed her fate. Low blows and zero proof of her capabilities. Teresa Setterse

I’VE MET HIM, SO I KNOW THE DA LEADER IS THE RIGHT PERSON FOR THE JOB