RSF urges Jacob Zuma to end threats to sue media for defamation
(RSF/IFEX) – The following is a 7 July 2006 RSF open letter to Jacob Zuma: Letter to Zuma over his threat to sue media that don’t pay within 14 days Mr. Jacob Zuma Deputy President African National Congress 8 Epping Road, Forest Town Johannesburg 2000 South Africa Paris, 7 July 2006 Dear Mr. Zuma, Reporters […]
FXI condemns issuing of subpoenas to ex-“Sowetan” journalists to testify in fraud trial
(FXI/IFEX) – The following is an FXI press statement: FXI condemns issuing of subpoenas to ex-Sowetan journalists to testify in fraud trial The FXI condemns the decision on the part of the state to subpoena ex-Sowetan newspaper journalists Willie Bokala and Saint Molakeng as reprehensible and a blow to media freedom. The journalists have been […]
FXI concerned about “growing trend of self-censorship” in the South African Broadcasting Corporation
(FXI/IFEX) – The following is a FXI press release: FXI concerned about growing trend of self-censorship at the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) The FXI is deeply disturbed about recent reports regarding the SABC’s decision not to [broadcast] a documentary on South African President Thabo Mbeki scheduled for Wednesday of last week. Apparently the documentary […]
Employee, fired for critical article, is reinstated
(FXI/IFEX) – The following is an FXI press statement: FXI welcomes the reinstatement of Cosawu member Vusi Sibeko for article on working conditions at Superspar store On 11 May 2006, Vusi Sibeko won his case for unfair dismissal at the CCMA [Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration of South Africa, an independent statutory body providing […]
President decides not to sign problematic bill; FXI calls on government department to stop drafting unconstitutional legislation
(FXI/IFEX) – The following is an FXI press statement: FXI welcomes President’s decision not to sign Icasa Amendment Bill, calls on Department of Communications to desist from drafting unconstitutional legislation The Freedom of Expression Institute (FXI) welcomes the fact that President Thabo Mbeki has refused to sign into law the Independent Communications Authority of South […]
FXI welcomes acquittal of two Soweto activists on a charge of “illegal gathering”
(FXI/IFEX) – The following is a 16 March 2006 FXI statement: FXI welcomes the acquittal of two Soweto activists on a charge of Illegal Gathering After nine postponements and two days of trial, the Orlando Magistrate’s Court today found Kanapy Moeketsi and Peter Jacobs not guilty on a charge of illegal gathering. The FXI welcomes […]
Court prohibits individual from publishing criticism of health campaign; MISA concerned over “judicial censorship”
(MISA/IFEX) – The Media Institute of Southern Africa – South Africa (MISA-SA) is alarmed at the judiciary’s continuing imposition of restrictions on the publication of information, actions which constitute unacceptable judicial censorship. Most recently, the Cape High Court ordered vitamin salesman Matthias Rath to stop publishing statements accusing the Treatment Action Campaign of acting as […]
FXI welcomes court ruling on Shack Dwellers’ Movement’s right to hold demonstration
(FXI/IFEX) – The following is an FXI statement: Over the past month, the FXI has been supporting the Shack Dwellers’ Movement in Durban, called Abahlali Base Mjondolo, in their attempts to hold a march in the city. This was the second time that the organisation has wanted to hold a march. On the first occasion, […]
FXI’s Anti-Censorship Programme releases sixth progress report
(FXI/IFEX) – The following is an FXI report: Sixth Report of the Anti-Censorship Programme January 2006 The past year in South Africa has shown that the struggle for socio-economic rights is the main terrain of struggle around freedom of expression. The Minister of Safety and Security, Charles Nqakula, recently reported that there were 5,085 legal […]
Editors’ organization probes legality of Zuma’s closed court
(MISA/IFEX) – The South African National Editors Forum (Sanef) has been consulting editors and lawyers about the exclusion of the media from former deputy president Jacob Zuma’s rape hearing. On 6 December 2005, reporters were barred from Court 9 at the Johannesburg magistrate’s court, where Zuma was being charged with rape. They were also not […]
Employee dismissed for article on working conditions at Royal Ascot Super Spar store
(FXI/IFEX) – The Freedom of Expression Institute (FXI) has written an open letter to the Royal Ascot Super Spar store in Cape Town to protest against the management’s decision to dismiss a worker, Vusi Sibeko, for writing an article that was critical of working conditions at the company. Apparently, the company dismissed Sibeko on the […]
FXI condemns banning of the media from Jacob Zuma rape hearing and harassment of “The Star” reporters
(FXI/IFEX) – The following is an FXI statement: FXI condemns banning of the media from Jacob Zuma rape hearing and harassment of The Star reporters The FXI condemns the harassment of The Star reporters and the banning of the media by the police in former Deputy President Jacob Zuma’s court hearing on a charge of […]
Police crush Durban demonstration; FXI disturbed by increasing violations of the right to protest
(FXI/IFEX) – The following is an FXI press release: FXI disturbed by growing number of state violations of the right to protest The Freedom of Expression Institute is disturbed at the growing number of violations of the right to protest by local authorities and the police. Mounting evidence suggests that more local governments are abusing […]
Government demands newspaper hand over records on “Oilgate” story
(FXI/IFEX) – The following is an FXI press release: RE: Issuing of section 205 subpoena to Mail and Guardian’s on-line host M-Web The Freedom of Expression Institute (FXI) condemns the fact that the state has issued a subpoena in terms of Section 205 of the Criminal Procedures Act to the Mail and Guardian (M&G) Online’s […]
Telkom harassment of communications activists a violation of freedom of expression, says FXI
(FXI/IFEX) – The following is a 14 September 2005 FXI press release: FXI condemns Telkom’s harassment of Communications Rights Campaign picketers The Freedom of Expression Institute (FXI) condemns the fact that, for the second time, South Africa’s fixed line telecommunications operator Telkom has called the police to break up a picket held by the Communications […]
FXI welcomes dropping of Telkom’s case against “Hellkom”
(FXI/IFEX) – The following is a 6 September 2005 FXI press release: FXI welcomes dropping of Telkom’s case against Hellkom The Freedom of Expression Institute (FXI) welcomes the fact that Telkom has decided to withdraw its case against the creators of the “Hellkom” website, but calls on the company to take decisive action on affordable […]