Monday
May212007
De Lille Tries to Shut Down Our Conversation
Monday, May 21, 2007 at 2:42PM 
Patricia De Lille has denounced the freedom of bloggers, asking government to crack down on bloggers. This follows a bout blog of criticism targeted at ID colleague, Simon Grindrod.
IOL reports that she's even applying to use tax-payer's money for a National Intelligence Service investigation to track the blogger down.
Fortunately, we live in a free and democratic country where this will not get very far. Perhaps, as Angus points out, MP De Lille will find a more sympathic government in communist China or North Korea?
The point of citizen journalism, as opposed to regulated mainstream media is free and natural expression of ideas by ordinary people (i.e. voting constituents). If these issues with Grindrod are being raised online, people are probably talking about them in natural conversation too. She could gain alot more benefit by paying attention to what is being said, and possibly responding in a public forum to the issues that have been raised. This is the meaning of "join the conversation".
This is why your fellow parliamentarians Helen Zille and Ebrahim Rasool from the DA and ANC respectively have social-media profiles... And I congratulate them for that.
Reader Comments (26)
100% right Dave.
Asking parents to be more in touch with the time their kids spend on Mxit is one thing. Asking for a "government crackdown on blogs" is something else entirely. And very, very scary.
Power to the people! Viva iBloggers viva :)
VIVA!
[...] Angus, Rafiq and Dave Duarte have both chimed in already. Cry havoc and let loose the blogs of [...]
AMAndla!
AWEthu!
Let me try that again, with markup this time.... A.M.Andla
[...] African politics leads me to believe that this is just effective online marketing at work. Hope Dave doesn’t have National Intelligence on his ass by giving political opinion though if this IS serious. Either way, Paul needs help us get clear on [...]
Stupid short-sighted politicians - now that traditional media are loosing influence, the 'delegates' loose their traditionally exclusive means for propaganda and spin.
As in a spasmic reaction they want to curb the real 'power to the people' (for which they always pretend to fight, remember?). Blaming new media for it being abused by some people - as if there were no child-porn without Mxit nor blasphemy without blogs.
I'm waiting for the smart-ass in parliament that wants to abolish cars, as they are quite convenient for get-aways and drive-by shootings. Mrs. De Lille: let's also ban knifes and have dinner with our hands again - but show me how to, please?
Fortunately it is too late: the spirit is out of the bottle - technology prevails - she could have learned that by now from her comrades in China where they can not block all 'imperialistic' sites and blogs - but then her hotline with Beijing was probably down because of all the incoming complaints about those anarchistic bloggers in this socialist paradise.
Ah well, she has had her blogging-Monday-of-fame. In that sense the new media actually add a new phenomenon to this country - who's next? I for sure know a few candidates in parliament....
PS
In case you don't hear from me next Monday, I'm most likely detained at Robbeneiland, as NIS, SAPS and Telkom (independently of each other!) traced my IP. Just blog me out of jail, ok?
I agree. Every person has his/her right to discuss new, event and personal thoughts in a blog. It's like the freedom of the press which has the right to inform the people. Maybe she's hinding something.
[...] Dave (Great move in showing where politicians have embraced the medium) [...]
[...] good posts I’ve read on this issue: Wired Gecko Dave Duarte Jonathan Carter Pickled [...]
Mike and Ellen, thanks for adding your views. I'm going to be on Radio 702 / Cape Talk at 9pm tonight with Eric Miyene airing some of these views.
I think if the crack down actually happens, Bullard's blog should be the first to be censored. He has way too much to say even though he hasn't said anything about politicians. While they're at, maybe this should coincide with the censorship of the free press? I think free speech is counter-productive for the development of this country...
I think the fuss is about this article: http://samaleprostitute.wordpress.com/2007/05/03/simon-grindrod-kaapstad-od-stadsraad-lid/
I think this is a sign of a dictator. Removing the rights of people to express their thoughts is one way of saying that people must follow their will. It's a common tactic that they hiding their true intentions when it comes to leadership, especially if they are thinking of something strange.
Hey Duarte,
*Word on the street is that you caused a lil bit of rawkus in the political sphere of things.
Aluta continua!
*Names of persons/parties have been withheld, to obviously protect the identities of the guilty.
Some MXit & Blogging Positives for Patricia de Lille
Everyone is buzzing due to Paticia de lille’s FUD surrounding Blogging & MXit.
Here are few positives aspects about MXit and blogging and how it applies to everyone in South Africa, not just the rich or poor
MXit & Blogging bridges the ...
[...] or frustrating at the time but ultimately these issues came forward, virally, spread from one blog to another, from one media house to another, and created discussion and debate, and that is what is [...]
I dont think it will affect mainstream bloggers such as yourself that much at all. Im sorry but i strongly believe there should be some form of control and scensorship... There are some rough blogs out there and the blogosphere is an extremely open forum and from that point of view i am a little confused as to why you are not FOR such control/scensorship etc. Im not attacking your point at all, just asking the question. What would be the negative aspects for bloggers such as those posting comments right here? To be fair if there is no form of scensorship or control at all then surely (as David Bullard implies) the blogosphere really does just come down to meaningless banter with no real credibility at all? Again, just raising a few points.
The guy behind the SA Male Prostitute blog can be found by googling "Juan Uys"
He is known for making up lies and have a very troubled past.
He lives on the publicity and you should decide if you want to keep iving him what he want
[...] good posts I’ve read on this issue: Wired Gecko Dave Duarte Jonathan Carter Pickled Bushman Vincent Maher AKPC_IDS += "259,"; Tagged: Dave Duarte, free [...]
Blogging keeps me insane. Keep up all the positive work. I too love to blog. I found this one to be very informative :)
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