Key Highlights :
In recent years, there has been an alarming trend of public officials, such as the premier of Gauteng, Panyaza Lesufi, refusing to speak to certain media outlets because they published articles critical of them. This is a dangerous precedent to set, and one that should be addressed immediately. When public officials refuse to speak to certain media outlets, it sends a message that they are not accountable to the public and that their feelings are more important than the truth.
The case of Panyaza Lesufi is particularly concerning. After he was elected premier of Gauteng, Lesufi began to refer to publications he disagreed with as “Stratcom agents” and refused to speak to journalists from those outlets. On one occasion, he even refused to speak to a journalist from The Citizen because “you are a publication of boers”. This kind of behavior is unacceptable and sets a dangerous precedent.
The refusal of public officials like Lesufi to speak to certain media outlets is a direct attack on the freedom of the press. Journalists should be able to report on public officials without fear of retribution. If public officials are allowed to pick and choose which media outlets they will speak to, then the public will not be able to get an accurate picture of what is happening in their government. This undermines the very foundation of democracy.
It is also important to note that Lesufi’s refusal to speak to certain media outlets is not limited to those he disagrees with. He has also refused to speak to The Citizen on multiple occasions, despite the fact that the outlet has never published anything negative about him. This shows that Lesufi is not interested in having a fair and open dialogue with the media, but is instead trying to control the narrative about himself.
Public officials like Lesufi must be held accountable for their actions. If they refuse to speak to certain media outlets, then they should be held publicly accountable for their actions. The public has the right to know what their government is doing and should not be denied that right because of the personal feelings of a public official.
The refusal of public officials to speak to certain media outlets is a serious problem that must be addressed. It cannot be allowed to continue, as it undermines the very foundation of democracy and limits the public’s access to accurate information. If public officials like Panyaza Lesufi continue to refuse to speak to certain media outlets, then it is up to the public to hold them accountable and demand that they do their job and provide the public with the information they need.