Durban - Communications Minister Faith Muthambi is expected to address the 2nd eThekwini Social Cohesion conference at Chief Albert Luthuli ICC in Durban.
The three-day conference is being hosted by the eThekwini Municipality’s Parks, Recreation and Culture unit.
Minister Muthambi said ahead of her address that media should assist in contributing to the transformation of the country.
“The media must lead the way in combating all forms of discrimination including xenophobia in the country.
“Today, the world needs the type of the media that promotes conflict management and resolution....the media that can mobilise people to build peace and stability in the world. Together, the media included, it is our time to contribute and work towards realising the vision of a cohesive society.
“We expect our media to also provide a window of transparency in society and inject life to the country’s economy by publishing financial and market information to citizens, allowing them to participate freely and fruitfully in their country’s economy,” she said.
Minister Muthambi said the media should understand that moving forward requires a shared commitment as well as new ideas, new plans, new resources, and new ways of doing things.
She appealed to the media to use the United Nation’s newly agreed Sustainable Development Agenda 2030 to report stories that seek to promote values of tolerance as well as advancing the vision of a social cohesive global village.
Minister Muthambi said the digital era brought technological tools that the media can utilise to build peace in the world.
She said the continued conflicts in certain parts of our country and the world, clearly indicates that the media too, should stop operating as a negative force, to foster hatred or incite violence in our society.
“We are also appealing to producers to use a fast- paced TV and radio drama series to model peaceful problem solving as an alternative to tribal or any other form of violence,” she said. - SAnews.gov.za
