20100922
africanews

DURBAN (Reuters) - South Africa's ruling African National Congress pressed on Wednesday for a new tribunal to punish unscrupulous news reporting that has been heavily criticised as a plan to muzzle the media.

The ANC's media panel met behind closed doors at the party's National General Council, one of its most important political events in years, to iron out details of the plan which its leaders have enthusiastically embraced.

An international group, the Committee to Protect Journalists, has said the media rules are reminiscent of draconian apartheid-era press laws and could stunt South Africa's democracy.

The proposed Media Appeals Tribunal is designed to investigate complaints and punish irresponsible reporting, the ANC has said.

Media organisations say the tribunal is an attempt to crush investigative reporters who regularly expose corruption and hold the government accountable in a country where the ANC has a near two-thirds majority in parliament.

But the ANC, which led the struggle against apartheid, rejects such criticism.

"A lot of people died when the ANC fought for a free media. It is not a principle on which we will compromise but there is not enough diversity when it comes to media ownership and its views," said Febe Potgieter-Gqubule, a senior ANC member.

Separately, parliament is considering an information bill ANC lawmakers said is designed to protect state secrets, but which media groups believe could hinder investigations.