With a few days left before the official kick-off of the G20 Leaders’ Summit, President Cyril Ramaphosa received the Media20 Johannesburg Declaration from Media Monitoring Africa (now called Moxii Africa), and the South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF). The M20 is an independent initiative to ensure issues relating to media integrity and healthy information ecosystems are reflected in the G20 policy agenda.
William Bird, director of Moxii Africa, and Makhudu Sefara, chairperson of SANEF, led both delegations as they handed over the Johannesburg-Declaration. Ramaphosa was joined by Ronald Lamola, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, and Enoch Godongwana, Minister of Finance, respectively. Bird highlighted to the President the meaning and importance of the M20, held at the beginning of September and attended by international guests eager to address challenges faced by the media globally.
Sefara took the President and his team through what the Johannesburg Declaration addressed and why it was important for these issues to be presented to the G20 leaders. In his response, Ramaphosa promised to appeal that the Johannesburg Declaration must form part of the G20 agenda. He acknowledged that the issues raised by the M20 are not only of concern to South Africa but also global issues.
The President said he was pleased with the initiative, and it will surely appeal to not only the G20 countries, but other twenty-two countries that participate in G20 activities. Ramaphosa emphasised the importance of media freedom and how the Johannesburg Declaration was focusing on key issues that are relevant to today’s challenges faced by the media, such as sustainability. Ramaphosa said his government will continue, however difficult at times, to work closely with the media, while trying to contribute towards solutions raised in the Johannesburg Declaration.
