I think that it is time for South Africans to start worrying. Not, as the police would have us believe, because eTV has the audacity to 'harbour' criminals. Not because criminals are planning, like the rest of South Africa, to cash in on the World Cup (that's hardly news). And not because ? although I admit that this prompts anxiety ? a bunch of reporters at eNews can out-investigate our esteemed police officers.

The real reason why South Africans should be concerned is that the principle of media freedom ? one of the very cornerstones of democracy ? is being threatened by a government obsessed with preserving its reputation.

Wait, wait, before you start haranguing me for criticising the government's 'zero tolerance' approach to crime, let's take stock of the situation.

eTV broadcasted interviews with two anonymous 'criminals' who threatened to (a) rob tourists at the World Cup and (b) shoot their way out of a confrontation with police. Pretty vague threats, really ? somewhat like Julius Malema's now infamous (and ubiquitously quoted) threat to "kill for Zuma". Perhaps eTV's 'criminals' are planning to metaphorically rob tourists.

Considering that there is no evidence that eTV's so-called criminals have actually committed a crime, it seems rather bizarre to arrest them for threats which have no clearly-defined targets. If police were to do so, surely they would also need to arrest half of the ANC Youth League, a few comrades in the MK vets and, sadly, a couple of iafrica.com readers?

Right, now that we've cleared that up, let's get back to the issue of media freedom.

In a functioning democracy, the media should be able to freely report on issues that are in the public interest without the fear of being hauled before a court or being forced to reveal their sources. In revealing their sources, the media loses credibility and the ability to perform its function in society.

The function of the media in society is not to act as consultants or informants for the police force, but rather to gather and report on the news. When journalists are forced to give up their sources, they break a contract of trust, not only with the source (and all potential future sources), but also with the public, which trusts the media to report truthfully on matters of public interest.

In South Africa, the right to the freedom of the press is guaranteed under the Constitution. This guarantee extends to the right to receive or impart information and ideas. The only limitations on this right are (a) propaganda for war, (b) incitement of imminent violence or (c) advocacy of hatred that is based on race, ethnicity, gender or religion and that constitutes incitement to cause harm.

The eTV report does none of the above and the reporter should not, therefore, be hauled over the coals by a Police Ministry, which is obviously incapable of performing basic investigations on its own.

Do you agree with Rebekah? Or are you with the Police Ministry on this one?