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by Afreeha Jawad

If the rise of the middle class was the Sri Lankan experience following neo-colonialism's early years - nearly 40 years ago, South Africa faces similar social class emergence following black liberation. Here again, high privatisation levels, the consumerist spirit, acquisitiveness and self-leanings - seemingly an appendage of privatisation hitherto unknown in that country are already under way.

What minority white rule - understandably rejected, the present black majority has overwhelmingly embraced - the defeathering of state ownership. Not surprising then the upward socially mobile black African class going head-on collision with good sense - surely detrimental to all of Mandela's achievements in moving his people out of the clutches of subservience and oppression. This new class, let alone deciding South Africa's fate in the coming years is already showing signs of danger.

The greatest threat to South African society is press privatisation. A white dominated media is no more. But their ghosts are now on the scene for what is quite obvious. Smeared by the presence of several black media companies, an imposing and quite threatening, strong and powerful black middle class emergence with connections to more powerful groups is currently fortifying itself. This class quite oblivious to public good - remains wrongfully attuned, unmindful of 'Black' wellbeing-ironically priority number one in Mandela's 'black release' cry.

The presence of pressure groups do not go unnoticed but then falling prey or not rests finally with the 'blacks' themselves. Significantly, it was such pressure groups that helped build elitists among indigenous communities in colonial countries all over the world that made good if not better replicas of the colonial bourgeoise. That game is still not over. If Mandela's fight with the whites was tough, his attempts in black elite reformation would remain in vain.

According to Professor Govin Reddy of Rhodes University, this growing black African middle class is sensitive to criticism and against corruption exposure. He was addressing the Commonwealth Press Union at Trans Asia Hotel recently.

He referred to demographic changes in newsrooms across South Africa with the upper echelons now coloured more with 'blacks' than 'whites' - certainly good opportunity to build a strong and stable South Africa. Listening to Professor Reddy this writer fathomed how though the post 1994 era sees a totally free press and open society, the going is tough with externalities working behind scenes to lure the South African elite into working towards international agenda for which they themselves would be recipients of great financial rewards.

Mandela even said South Africa should put press freedom at the top of its priorities.

A bad free press is better than a technically subservient one - Mandela once proclaimed.

But could it not be argued of a bad free press being equal to a technically subservient one?

What's most detrimental to South African public good is this rising social exclusiveness in order to pursue self interest that will use political power to curb press freedom.

Professor Reddy even recalled how editorial policy to be in the hands of the Minister was hotly debated in Parliament. The opposition and civil society saw that this did not materialize.

The South Africa Broadcasting Corporation now under political and commercial pressure is progressively losing its public service mandate and independence while the South African press resorts to news sensationalization.

An indignant Professor Reddy cited how these newspapers have gone banana over cricket and World Cup. Evoking much laughter in the audience he even displayed slides of the 'Star and 'Cape Times' front page stories - the former led with the Australian team's arrival and the latter with 'Yellow fever'.

On one page alone were two editorials carrying similar contents. 'England won't play in Harare.' "This then is the state of the South African press," he lamented and continued," in a country where poverty is high and an expected war this is what is highlighted."

Professor Reddy - all very mindful of public service regretted the great emphasis on markets and getting audiences.

South Africa's decline in quality journalism, maintaining press independence and standards and the legacy of apartheid - pose new challenges - not to forget a press being pressurized from all quarters - politicians, advertisers and black elite as well.

Professor Reddy's speech revealed how the absence of media diversity coupled with a no focus stance on the rural poor for whom so much should be done could be a starter perhaps even a springboard to social exclusion, frustration, bitterness and greater peripheral numbers - a favourable state for white policy - divide and rule.

Though an initiative towards a new poverty oriented media using indigenous langauge is an innovation, its content implementation itself is doubtful against the backdrop of forceful externalities, now gradually positioning themselves in the South African social fabric.

One perhaps may ask, 'whither self-rule and independence?'

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