South Africa

(FXI/IFEX) – The following is a 1 September 2005 FXI press release: Statement by FXI on police silence over break-in at Deputy President’s home The Freedom of Expression Institute expresses its grave concern over the police maintaining secrecy for 17 days over the housebreaking at the home of Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka in Morningside, Johannesburg, […]

(FXI/IFEX) – The following is an FXI press release: FXI welcomes commencement of trial in Landless Peoples’ Movement torture case The Freedom of Expression Institute welcomes the fact that the trial of Superintendent Simangaliso Simelane following complaints of assault and torture by three activists of the Landless Peoples’ Movement (LPM), has finally commenced. The alleged […]

(FXI/IFEX) – The following is a 12 August 2005 FXI statement: FXI expresses concerns on the South African Convergence Bill The FXI is deeply disturbed by a number of provisions in South Africa’s new Convergence Bill, which is supposed to replace existing broadcasting and telecommunications legislation, and is also concerned about the process that has […]

(FXI/IFEX) – The following is a 27 May 2005 FXI press statement: RE: FXI welcomes Constitutional Court ruling on Laugh It Off’s ‘Black Labour, White Guilt’ T-shirt The Freedom of Expression Institute (FXI) welcomes the ruling by the Constitutional Court today in the matter of Laugh it Off Productions versus South African Breweries (SAB) International, […]

(FXI/IFEX) – The following is an FXI media statement: RE: FXI condemns granting of gagging order against Mail and Guardian newspaper The Freedom of Expression Institute is deeply disturbed by the decision of the Johannesburg High Court to prevent the Mail and Guardian newspaper from printing an article on the ‘Oilgate’ scandal. The article was […]

(MISA/IFEX) – In the first week of May, provincial government officials barred South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) television journalists and a camera crew from entering the Limpopo provincial legislature to report on the Lebowakgomo government’s budget vote. They were allegedly thrown out after refusing to leave their cameras at the door. Two weeks earlier, Premier […]

(FXI/IFEX) – The following is 3 May 2005 FXI press statement: Government’s threat to introduce incitement legislation in response to Pelindaba radioactivity controversy The FXI is deeply alarmed at threats on the part of the government to introduce legislation to make individuals and organisations ‘speak responsibly’ on sensitive matters, and to charge them with incitement […]

(FXI/IFEX) – The following is a 15 April 2005 FXI press release: FXI’s Anti-Censorship Programme releases fifth progress report The Anti-Censorship Programme (ACP) of the Freedom of Expression Institute has just released its fifth progress report, covering the period October 2004 to March 2005. In it, the Programme noted that is was pleased to announce […]

(MISA/IFEX) – A local community newspaper, “The Developer”, is facing a ZAR100,000 (approx. US$16,818) defamation suit from businessman Eric Chauke. Through his lawyers, Mdlalose Attorneys, Chauke is claiming “compensation for injury to his dignity, reputation and good name”. In its December 2004 issue, “The Developer”, a monthly publication based in Soweto, Johannesburg, published a report […]

(FXI/IFEX) – The following is a 20 October 2004 FXI statement: ACP releases fourth progress report on state of freedom of expression in South Africa The Anti-Censorship Programme (ACP) of the Freedom of Expression Institute (FXI) has just released its fourth progress report on the state of freedom of expression in South Africa. In the […]

(FXI/IFEX) – The following is an 11 October 2004 FXI statement: FXI supports ETV and SABC’s bid for a live broadcast of the Shaik trial The Freedom of Expression Institute (FXI) has today urged Judge Hillary Squires of the Durban High Court to allow South Africa’s free- to- air-television channel ETV, and the country’s public […]

(IFJ/IFEX) – The following is a 24 September 2004 IFJ media release: IFJ Backs Press Freedom Campaign Concern Over “Creeping Censorship” in South Africa The International Federation of Journalists today backed calls from South African journalists’ groups for international vigilance over a “creeping censorship” of media and the emergence of direct pressures against journalists ten […]

(MISA/IFEX) – South Africa’s ruling African National Congress (ANC) and 92 of its serving and former members of parliament (MPs), including four cabinet ministers, have threatened to sue “This Day” newspaper for ZAR48 million (approximately US$7.4 million) for publishing a list of names in connection with Parliament’s probe into the misuse of travel vouchers. The […]

(WPFC/IFEX) – The following is an 18 August WPFC press statement: WPFC concerned over South African government’s attempts to muzzle media The World Press Freedom Committee has learned with deep concern about the South African government’s attack on the SA media for publishing news reports from Pakistan about alleged terrorist plots to target buildings and […]

(FXI/IFEX) – FXI has condemned South African telecommunications giant Telkom’s threats of legal action against the owners and operators of the website http://www.hellkom.co.za. Telkom alleges that the site is an infringement of its registered trademark and, therefore, a violation of the country’s trademark and intellectual property law. The corporation has demanded that the website be […]

(FXI/IFEX) – The following is an 8 July 2004 FXI statement: FXI condemns police barring of media from Diepsloot The Freedom of Expression Institute (FXI) has signalled its outrage at police action in Diepsloot on 7 July 2004, when, for a period of three hours, media were barred from covering the ongoing conflict between the […]