IT IS unlikely that the ANC's proposed media appeals tribunal will go ahead, Press Council director Joe Thloloe said yesterday.

"I think the [ANC] realises an attempt to establish a media appeals tribunal will turn into a battle in the Constitutional Court," Thloloe said.

But the parliamentary inquiry into the matter would continue because the party had to carry out its resolutions.

Thloloe said the Press Council had already told the chair of Parliament's portfolio committee on communications it would be happy to make a presentation to it.

The African National Congress resolved at its national conference in Mangaung in December that Parliament had to continue to conduct an inquiry into the feasibility of the tribunal.

It said this needed to be done within the framework of the country's Constitution.

"The ANC remains committed to a media climate that is free from vested political and commercial interests," the party said in its resolution.

At its policy conference last year the ANC said it was largely satisfied with suggestions made by the Press Freedom Commission (PFC) to improve accountability in the print media.