A collection of South African newspapers. (file photo)
The Press Council of South Africa (PCSA) announced on Wednesday that it had expelled the independent media outlet “with immediate effect” for refusing to abide by the rulings and sanctions under the council's adjudication process.
PCSA Executive Director Latifa Mobara confirmed the expulsion in a formal statement.
The ban stems from the group's refusal to retract the comparative article. news 24 Journalist Karin Morgan to Nazi propagandist Leni Riefenstahl.
This column was published in multiple independent media titles in March 2024 and was deemed defamatory and harmful by the PCSA's adjudication panel.
Despite the appeal, PCSA Appeals Chair Judge Bernard Ngoepe upheld the judgment and ordered the independent media to apologize and remove the articles from their platforms.
The company declined to respond.
The independent media's rejection of the Press Council's findings also extended to a long-standing court case involving journalist Gillian Moody.
In 2016, the Press Ombud ruled that independent newspapers should apologize to Mr Moody, but the media group did not comply even after rejoining the PCSA in January 2024.
The situation worsened when Independent Media published articles about IOLs following the Morgan decision and announced their withdrawal from the PCSA.
Judge Fritz Brand, president of the Press Council, rejected the withdrawal as invalid, citing a provision that requires council members to give at least three years' notice before leaving.
The refusal of independent media to abide by the council's decisions led to the expulsion.
Brand expressed his disappointment at the ouster, saying it was “sad” but necessary.
“It is unacceptable for publications to deliberately refuse to comply with PCSA rulings,” he said.
This is the second time the Press Council has expelled a member, the first being jewish report, In 2022.
The Press Council has given independent media until October 9, 2024, to apologize to Mr Morgan and comply with the sanctions. As a result of the group's continued resistance, a final deadline of October 22nd was given.
Independent Media and IOL filed withdrawal notices on the same day, but the council rejected them.
In a letter sent on October 10, Mr Brand informed Independent Media executives that the group had joined the Press Council as a unified body in early 2024 and therefore would not be allowed to leave. did.
Those targeted for expulsion are Independent Media, IOL and African Community Media.
The Press Council said it was willing to negotiate the conclusion of pending complaints against independent media despite the expulsion.
