South Africa

(IPI/IFEX) – The following is an IPI press release: Vienna, 17 October 2003 IPI Criticises Decision of South African Hefer Commission to Widen Pursuit of Journalists IPI is alarmed that although the South African Hefer Commission is now “inviting” journalists to attend it is still threatening to use subpoenas if they fail to appear. According […]

(MISA/FXI/IFEX) – The following is a 16 October 2003 MISA-South Africa, FXI and South African National Editors’ Forum (Sanef) joint statement: Media defence groups condemn Hefer ruling BLOEMFONTEIN: The South African National Editors’ Forum (Sanef), the Freedom of Expression Institute (FXI) and the South Africa Chapter of the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA-SA) have […]

(IFJ/IFEX) – The following is an IFJ media release: Protection of Sources “Paramount” says IFJ as South African Journalists Face Court Challenge The International Federation of Journalists today called upon the South African authorities to withdraw subpoenas issued to journalists, which could force them to reveal their sources of information. “Protection of sources is of […]

(MISA/IFEX) – On 8 October 2003, former “Sunday Times” journalist Ranjeni Munusamy was subpoenaed to appear before the Hefer Commission as its first witness, forcing her to testify before the presidential commission of enquiry. The Hefer Commission is seeking information on the source of documents and a story that Munusamy leaked to the rival Sunday […]

(MISA/IFEX) – On 2 September 2003, a camera operator from e-tv, a commercial station, was assaulted and a colleague of his was threatened in an allegedly racial attack in upmarket Sandton, Johannesburg. Lensman Shabani Ramenu and producer Debbie Meyer were accosted while on assignment for the current affairs series “Third Degree”. According to a statement […]

(FXI/IFEX) – The following is an FXI statement: FXI calls for full media access into the enquiry on racism in rugby The Freedom of Expression Institute has this morning sent a letter to Justice Edwin King urging that media be allowed full access to cover the hearings into racism in the rugby sport in South […]

(MISA/IFEX) – The following is a 22 August 2003 MISA statement, followed by a MISA-South Africa press release about ongoing corruption investigations: On 18 August 2003, at the opening of the Nthabiseng Thutuzela Care Centre at Baragwanath Hospital in Soweto, South Africa, Justice Minister Penuell Maduna said the South African government would not comment on […]

(MISA/IFEX) – The following is an 8 July 2003 MISA press statement: Media call to scrap Terror Bill The South African chapter of the Media Institute for Southern Africa (MISA-SA) has added its voice to calls by the South African National Editors Forum and Freedom of Expression Institute for the immediate withdrawal of the draft […]

(MISA/IFEX) – The following is a 25 June 2003 submission by MISA’s South Africa chapter on the South African Broadcasting Corporation’s Draft Editorial Policy: INTRODUCTION TO MISA-SA The Media Institute of Southern Africa – South African chapter (MISA-SA) is a non-governmental organisation with members in eleven SADC countries. MISA focuses primarily on the need to […]

(FXI/IFEX) – The following is an FXI statement: FXI comments on draft editorial policies for South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) On Friday 13 June, the FXI submitted its comments on the SABC’S editorial policies, released for public comment earlier this year. As a result of amendments to the Broadcasting Act of 1999, the SABC is […]

(MISA/IFEX) – The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) has suspended sports presenter James Shikwambane for exchanging words with Sports Minister Ngconde Balfour on his 26 May 2003 show. Two days later, the Mungana Lonene FM sports presenter received a letter of suspension. Shikwambane phoned Minister Balfour directly to ask him whether he had a hand […]

(FXI/IFEX) – The following is a 19 May 2003 FXI statement: FXI warns about impact of Anti-Terrorism Bill on the media The Freedom of Expression Institute (FXI) has warned of the serious consequences that the proposed Anti-Terrorism Bill (ATB) will have on media freedom in South Africa. In an opinion piece titled “Media must wake […]

(FXI/IFEX) – The following is a 7 May 2003 FXI press release: FXI releases report on the state of censorship in South Africa The Freedom of Expression Institute (FXI) has just released a report on the activities of its Anti-Censorship Programme (ACP), which has been in existence since June 2002. A decision was taken to […]

(FXI/IFEX) – The following is a 30 April 2003 FXI press release: FXI calls for withdrawal of Anti-terrorism Bill The Freedom of Expression Institute (FXI) has made a submission to the South African Portfolio Committee on Safety and Security on the Anti-terrorism Bill, B12-2003. The deadline for submissions is today. This is the third time […]

(MISA/IFEX) – On 17 March 2003, Eastern Cape Member of Executive Council (MEC) for Provincial Safety, Liaison and Transport Dennis Neer launched an attack on the press for its allegedly “biased” reporting on police transfers. Addressing the legislature, Neer said, “recently our biased media, which is clearly being fed by those who benefited from apartheid […]

(FXI/IFEX) – The following is an FXI press statement: Meeting adopts programme of action against the Draft Anti-Terrorism Bill A forum has been established in Johannesburg to campaign against the proposed anti-terrorism legislation in South Africa. This forum, consisting of a wide range of civil society organisations that are deeply concerned about the implications of […]