Plight of women must be highlighted

Women’s month is a time of introspection, writes of Johannesburg

WJaneske Botes

hen delivering a keynote address at the Unisa annual media conference recently, Communications Minister Ayanda Dlodlo highlighted a number of obvious, yet important, roles which the media should play in building a better South Africa.

She said the media must ensure that citizens make responsible and informed choices rather than acting out of ignorance or misinformation. “Media stories must contribute to our development by allowing South Africans to make better decisions or take advantage of opportunities,” she said.

This is relevant as we commemorate Women’s Month, a time of necessary introspection and action in the midst of the many instances of abuse and attacks on women and children. The public needs reliable information so they can know what is really happening around them, as their survival may depend on it.

The provision of reliable information can go a long way towards helping in managing conflict and promoting democratic principles.

During high-profile court cases, for instance, the media are often accused of provoking an atmosphere of public hysteria by underlining the rights of those aggrieved, while overlooking the rights of the accused.

Think of the advocate who was assaulted by a mob in Mpumalanga as they could not understand how he could represent suspected child killers.

The media must highlight the plight of women.