Talk:South Africa

Thanks for allowing conservative postings!

Thanks for not deleting posts, like done by Wikipedia!

Thanks for allowing the posting of the truth.

Reverted material

All this material has been removed from the main page, and the sources must be vetted for content before reinclusion. RobS 14:01, 14 May 2007 (EDT)

Criticism by the informal media in South Africa

It is widely believed that the South African Government controlls the South African Media. Dr. Snuki Zikalala, the chief of SABC news and a members of the ruling ANC Government, is controlling the content of the news on the SABC. [1]

The Freedom of Expression Institute(FXI) is seriously concerned about the state of media freedom in South Africa [2] According to the formal media in South Africa "Freedom of expression has limits." [3] This is used as an excuse to censor news which is not politically correct, or which does not serve the ruling political party's (political) agendas.

Therefore the public does not have access to uncencored news and information. The informal media is filling this gap by allowing individuals to post unedited information. The informal media (blogs) serves as an outlet for all of those individuals that have the need to say what they really think about the situation in South Africa, or any other topic. [4]

The official South African media criticised the informal media, and questioned its proffessionalism, but some bloggers are actually reporters, or they have worked as reporters in the formal media. Some bloggers are highly intelligent, qualified and degreed, they run their our own successful companies and are well informed on the political situation in South Africa. [5]

The formal media selects the information it wants to publish. When letters are received from the public, only certain letters are published. Not all letters can be published due to a lack of space in a newspaper, but this is not the case with the informal media. Furthermore the formal media selects which letters it wants to publish, according to the political affiliation or agendas of the newspaper. It may deliberately cencor certain individuals or political views, or any other comments on any subject it doesn't support. Distorted points of view can also be provided by selectively deleting sections of any letter or comments made by an individuals. It is easy for the informal media to expose politicians which are protected (even supported) by the mainstream media. Therefore politicians are against the informal media.

The informal media provided the individual with the means to express themselves, and for others to take note.

Why South Africa Sucks is one of the most popular South African Internet Blogs, critical of the crime, Corruption & Genocide in South Africa. It was started on 13 Nov 2006. It recorded 222,006 hits since inception. There are 4 persons contributing to Articles on Why South Africa Sucks.[6] They are:

• Knorrig
• Eli the Bearded
• The Uhuru Guru
• The Real Realist

Other websites in the informal media is also critical of the government. The mainstream media tries to ignore these websites. They refuse to refer to them.

The website African Crisis reports on issues critical to South Africa. [7]

Other informal websites critical of the situation in South Africa is:

• Crime Expo South Africa . Net [8]

• The Right Perspective [9]

The informal media in South Africa is not only critical about the situation in the country, but it also provide information on a wide range of subjects & differnt points of view.

____

INFORMAL COMMENT MADE ON THE CRIME EXPO SOUTH AFRICA . NET WEBSITE REGARDING FREEDOM OF SPEECH

Freedom of speech written by a guest, May 14, 2007

Real freedom of speech can only exist in a free society. This is not the case in SA. This has never been the case in the past and I believe that real freedom of opinion will become even more dangerous in future. Example Zimbabwe.

The way I feel about what is happening in this place cannot be expressed publicly with my name attached to it. I cannot even openly say what I think except in a small circle of trusted friends.

The Sucs blog serves as an outlet for all of those that have the need to say what they really think about the f*ck*d up situation in this country with a government openly supporting the criminal in some cases where it suites them. Hate speech, but of course only in one direction, is openly practiced by government officials high up and they do all in their power to kill the culture of certain population groups.

On this site I can add my comment but I have to be very careful with my choice of words and I have to make sure not to be too critical.

On the Sucs blog I can add my comment saying exactly what I think and using a nickname of choice.

I think there is a real need for blogs where very disappointed and very angry South Africans can freely comment!

Nick

This note was made in the comment section. [10] —The preceding unsigned comment was added by John99 (talk)