Public Protector Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane has apparently noted her concerns about the liquidation application against Sekunjalo Independent Media (SIM), saying to close down the media giant would narrow the number of media voices in the country.

According to a report on the IoL site – owned by SIM – Mkhwebane said that while in some instances the media is used as a propaganda tool, it would be suicidal for SA’s news media space to have a select few media houses controlling the narrative.

She was speaking in Durban where she was engaging with a range of political and civic organisations.

Mkhwebane responded to myriad questions from participants that ranged from the issue of the Constitution, the Reserve Bank and her relationship with government departments. She, however, lamented that media is used by those with the means to fix narratives and said nonetheless, some media houses are willing to go against the tide and report factually, without taking sides.

As such, they should be supported.

In his closing remarks at the same gathering, the President of the African People’s Convention, Themba Godi, said media houses that are always ready to provide a contrary narrative, like Independent Media, should be supported.

Godi used the example of how Independent Media meticulously mined the CR17 bank statement leaks when other media houses were reluctant to do so.

Full report on the IoL site