Business Day reports that the National Press Club of South Africa has labeled the recent comments about the media made on Talk Radio 702 by Government Communication and Information System CEO Jimmy Manyi as ‘disengenuous and ridiculous’.
Manyi accused the local media of ‘cartel-like tendencies’ and hostility towards the government. This is not the first time that Manyi has attacked the media for being what he feels is unnecessarily critical of government.
Also of concern to the National Press Club is the fact that Manyi heads a department that will take charge of the government’s R1bn advertising budget and centralise the buying of media space.
National Press Club GM Been Rootman believes government intervention is necessary to curb Manyi’s “frequent attacks on the media” and to help develop better relations between government and the media fraternity.
