(FXI/IFEX) – South African Press Agency reported that the international news agency Reuters has suspended its television operation in Cape Town after reviewing threatening telephone calls its staff have received in recent months. On 19 October 1999, the agency’s Johannesburg office said the threats had raised serious concern about the security of staff. But Reuters […]
(FXI/IFEX) – South African Press Agency reported that the international news
agency Reuters has suspended its television operation in Cape Town after
reviewing threatening telephone calls its staff have received in recent
months. On 19 October 1999, the agency’s Johannesburg office said the
threats had raised serious concern about the security of staff. But Reuters
did not describe the nature of the threats or mention who had made them. The
agency said the suspension affected only its Cape Town television news
office, and it was taking steps to provide video coverage of Cape Town
through other means. The decision to suspend television operations was taken
by senior managers in London.
In a statement, FXI said it was deeply disturbed by the closure and that it
was a significant setback for freedom of expression in the Western Cape
especially, which was already a very difficult environment for journalists
to operate in, given the levels of
violence. “Journalists have found themselves between a rock and a hard place
in the province, attracting threats if reports fall foul of anonymous
individuals, and risking pressure from the authorities to reveal sources or
hand over information if it may help in investigations of ongoing violence.
These latest events will undoubtedly make journalists’ working lives even
more difficult, leading to a chilling effect on reportage as journalists may
fear being issued with similar threats,” said FXI.
