Exogenous and Endogenous Democracy: South African Politics and Media

Abstract

The 2007 annual congress of the ruling African National Congress, South Africa, was a watershed in post-apartheid political and media developments. This article reviews the implications of this meeting for democracy and the media in light of the history of media-state relations during and after the political transition, and in terms of the unique role of the media in acting as internal opposition to the successive ruling apartheid and post-apartheid governments.The question of rotating elites within the ruling party briefly is examined. Issues of broadcasting and the print media are discussed against then backdrop of South African history. Issues of black economic empowerment and party political economic, and media-state, relations are examined. Also discussed are other parliamentary initiatives aimed at restricting media freedom.