Despite repeated attempts to arrange meetings with the Chairperson of our group and Editor-in-Chief, both of whom were travelling as previously communicated, the Press Council has chosen not to accommodate our request for constructive dialogue, the duo says. 

"Our initial hope in joining the Press Council was that it would serve as an impartial institution, upholding the highest values of press freedom and ethical journalism. Unfortunately, it has become evident that the Press Council does not represent these values as publicly claimed. Instead, through its recent judgments, the Council has positioned itself as a de facto censor, restricting the range of allowable opinions — an approach that is incompatible with its mandate to safeguard press freedom," they add.

However, Independent Media remains committed to upholding the highest standards of ethical journalism and media freedom. 

"Given the Press Council's current stance, we believe that the environment within it no longer aligns with our commitment to free expression and fair adjudication. As a result, we have made the difficult decision to withdraw from the Press Council," the duo adds. "We want to assure our readers and the public at large that all editorial complaints will be handled internally and fairly. Independent Media has set up a dedicated complaints process, and all editorial complaints can now be directed to editorialcomplaints@inl.co.za."

Independent Media and IOL conclude that they stand resolute in their mission to serve the South African public with journalism that promotes diverse voices, fosters critical thinking and opposes censorship. They remain committed to transparency, accountability and maintaining the trust of our audiences. 

For more information, visit www.iol.co.za. You can also follow IOL on Facebook or on X.

*Image courtesy of Facebook