STATEMENT BY DR ALEX BORAINE, VICE CHAIRPERSON OF THE TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION, ON A MEETING BETWEEN DELEGATIONS FROM THE TRC, THE BLACK EDITORS' FORUM AND THE FORUM OF BLACK JOURNALISTS
January 21, 1997
During a meeting lasting nearly two hours tonight, delegations from the TRC, the BEF and the FBJ discussed the concerns raised by the latter two organisations about the way in which the Commission is carrying out preparations for an inquiry into the role of the media under apartheid.
The fact that the BEF and FBJ supported strongly the holding of public hearings indicates that there is now a broad consensus from within the media on the need for such hearings.
The organisations emphasised that the TRC ought to consider inviting both individuals and organisations in their own right to give evidence before the Commission. We welcome this suggestion.
They also made a strong point, which we have to take into account, which is that there is no need for an intermediary between the media and the TRC, that the media is articulate and its various constituencies can speak for themselves.
As I announced some time ago, as a result of concerns expressed by a fairly wide range of media the TRC is to review the mandate it has given to the Freedom of Expression Institute in preparations for hearings. The intention is not to penalise anyone but to fulfil our objective of being as inclusive as possible in our work. We have to rethink our approach if important stakeholders find it impossible to participate.