SANEF Media Statement on the Death of Minister Collins Chabane

SANEF Statement 16 March 2015

The SA National Editors Forum (SANEF) joins South Africans in mourning the death on Sunday morning of Minister of Public Service Collins Chabane. In his previous capacity as Minister in the Presidency responsible for GCIS and general communication, Chabane was always responsive to issues and concerns of media.

In particular SANEF remembers the way he diffused the controversy started by utterances by then GCIS CEO Jimmy Manyi, that he would only place government adverts in media that gives government positive coverage.

Chabane called Manyi to order and made it clear that Manyi was misrepresenting a cabinet decision on centralizing control of government advertising. Chabane said then that government would not use its advertising budget to interfere with editorial control.

SANEF mourns his tragic passing and hopes other ministers and government officials across all spheres of the state will emulate his commitment to media freedom and editorial independence.

For Inquiries Mathatha Tsedu SANEF Executive Director 0824540527

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