South Africa

(FXI/IFEX) – The following is an FXI statement: Re: Jonathan Ball Publisher’s decision to not publish Robert Kirby’s novel “Songs of the Cockroach” The Freedom of Expression Institute is deeply distressed that Jonathan Ball Publishers have taken a decision not to publish Robert Kirby’s novel “Songs of the Cockroach” on the basis that defamation action […]

(FXI/IFEX) – The FXI notes with great concern the African National Congress (ANC) members of parliament’s (MPs’) continued attacks on the national broadcaster. In yet another attack on the South African Broadcasting Corporation, on Wednesday 31 October 2001, the MPs criticised the broadcaster for its coverage on President Thabo Mbeki, saying that it is giving […]

(FXI/IFEX) – The following is a 30 October 2001 FXI press statement: National Assembly’s Communications Committee The Freedom of Expression Institute would like to express its discomfort over the call by the National Assembly’s Communications Committee to bring the public broadcaster in line with the government’s foreign policy and the implied censorship of the coverage […]

(FXI/IFEX) – The following is a 19 October 2001 FXI press statement: South African Media Freedom Day The Freedom of Expression Institute would like to remember those who suffered at the hands of the South African apartheid regime in their struggle to tell the truth, and to keep an open and transparent society. However, FXI […]

(MISA/IFEX) – On Friday 12 October 2001, the South African Union of Journalists (SAUJ) reported that a bodyguard assigned to protect Eastern Cape Premier Makhenkesi Stofile had assaulted a reporter. The SAUJ said in a statement that Sam Mkholeli, of news agency Eastern Cape News (ECN), was attacked on Wednesday 10 October, and it was […]

(MISA/IFEX) – South African Minister of Housing Sankie Mthembi-Mahanyele launched a R3-million (approx. US$334,360) defamation action against the independent newspaper “Mail & Guardian” in the Johannesburg High Court on Thursday 11 October 2001, in response to how she fared in the paper’s 1998 cabinet “report card.” The report card, which gave Mthembi-Mahanyele an “F,” referred […]

(FXI/IFEX) – The following is a 14 September 2001 FXI press statement: The Freedom of Expression Institute condemns the state’s subpoena of the two journalists Jaspreet Kindra, of the Mail and Guardian, and Sam Sole, freelance journalist, in Natal, to confirm in court the accuracy and authenticity of copies of published information. Sole and Kindra […]

(FXI/IFEX) – The following is a 5 September 2001 FXI press statement: The Freedom of Expression Institute, FXI, condemns the way the World Conference Against Racism (WCAR) has given a platform to the voices of the elite and tried to suppress any alternative voice. The denial of access to the conference of IndyMedia-South Africa and […]

(FXI/IFEX) – The following is a 13 August 2001 FXI press release: Interception and Monitoring Bill The Freedom of Expression Institute (FXI) calls upon the department of justice to postpone its deadline for public comments on the recently published Interception and Monitoring Bill. The FXI calls for the deadline, which is fixed for 13 August, […]

(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a CPJ press release: South Africa Considering Invasive Interception and Monitoring Bill New York, August 3 – The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is deeply troubled by South Africa’s proposed Interception and Monitoring Bill, which empowers the police, the National Defense Force, the Intelligence Agency, and the Secret Service to […]

(MISA/IFEX) – On Monday 18 June 2001, about forty members of the South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) braved the drizzle in Cape Town to protest subpoenas issued against media personnel. The protest was prompted by subpoenas issued for “Cape Times” photographer Benny Gool and “Die Burger” editor Arie Roussouw, to be witnesses in the […]

(FXI/IFEX) – The following is an FXI media statement: Ref: Media barred from arms deal hearing The Freedom of Expression Institute is shocked by the Public Protector’s deliberate breach of the people’s constitutional right to receive information and that of the media to report freely and openly on public interest matters by refusing live broadcast […]

(MISA/IFEX) – On 14 May 2001, Cape High Court Judge John Foxcroft declined to issue a warrant for the arrest of former “Cape Times” chief photographer Benny Gool. Gool did not arrive to testify at the trial of five senior Pagad members accused of lynching Hard Livings gang co-leader Rashaad Staggie. Judge Foxcroft pointed out […]

(MISA/IFEX) – Former “Cape Times” chief photographer Benny Gool will not testify in the trial of Pagad members, accused of lynching Hard Livings gang leader Rashaad Staggie. The trial that began on 14 May 2001. Speaking from his home yesterday Gool said he had been advised by his lawyers not to testify. “There are two […]

(FXI/IFEX) – The following is a 3 May 2001 FXI press release: Media statement for immediate release RE: Subpoena of photojournalist Benny Gool by Directorate of Special Operations 3 May 2001 The Freedom of Expression Institute is shocked that a subpoena has been issued to photojournalist Benny Gool to testify in the murder trial of […]

(FXI/IFEX) – The Directorate of Special Operations in South Africa has subpoenaed photographic journalist Benny Gool to testify in court on 14 May 2001 in the murder trial of Hard Livings gang leader Rashaad Staggie in Cape Town. Gool was present at the murder, and took pictures that have since been widely published. In 1998, […]