South Africa

(FXI/IFEX) – The inquest court hearing on the death of gang leader Rashaad Staggie in Cape Town was postponed yesterday to October 29, following requests by media lawyers to have time to contest the validity of subpoenas. On August 18, it was reported that the editors of “The Cape Times”, “The Cape Argus”, “Die Burger”, […]

(FXI/IFEX) – On 20 July 1998, nine Gugulethu, Cape Town policemen were suspended from duty following an assault on “Cape Argus” journalist Thabo Mabaso at the Gugulethu police station on 27 June 1998. West Metropolitan Police Chief Ganief Daniels said the decision to suspend the police on full pay was taken late on Monday, 20 […]

(FXI/IFEX) – On 10 July 1998, the Publication and Film Board decided that paintings by Rhodes University lecturer and artist Mark Hipper were not pornographic, following a criminal charge being brought against him by the Grahamstown Child and Welfare Society. The criminal complaint was pursuant to the Film and Publication Act 65 of 1996, and […]

(FXI/IFEX) – According to FXI, on 1 July 1998, the “Cape Argus” reported that Safety and Security Minister Sydney Mufamadi had apologised on behalf of his department to the “Cape Argus” editor, Moegsien Williams, for a brutal attack by police on reporter Thabo Mabaso. Mufamadi told Williams that he was “deeply saddened” by what had […]

(FXI/IFEX) – On 27 June 1998, “Cape Argus” journalist Thabo Mabaso was allegedly beaten by ten policemen at the Gugulethu police station after reporting a traffic accident. He was detained overnight and released the following day. Mabaso was taken to hospital for treatment and discharged on 29 June, but has lost sight in his left […]

(MISA/IFEX) – According to MISA, the “Mail & Guardian” newspaper reported in its 22-28 May 1998 edition that the offices of three southern Cape newspapers have been burnt to the ground in an apparent revenge attack for reporting on the activities of gangs in the region. The “Mail & Guardian” report stated that the offices […]

(FXI/IFEX) – The following correction was incorrectly attributed to the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA). The IFEX Clearing House regrets the error. **Corrects information in IFEX alert of 7 April 1998** Brian Vel, a radio journalist for the Kimberly bureau of the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), was suspended with pay on 5 April […]

(FXI/IFEX) – Brian Vel, a radio journalist for the Kimberly bureau of the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), was suspended with pay on 5 April 1998, apparently because he had contributed to an article which appeared in the “Mail & Guardian” newspaper. In a letter from the SABC’s human resources department in Johannesburg, Vel was […]

(FXI/IFEX) – On 2 April 1998, two journalists from YCE Television News of Finland were allegedly assaulted by a farmer in the Northern Province of South Africa before being arrested on charges of trespassing. Journalist Kirsia Crowley and cameraman Graham Walsh were interviewing workers on the Schuitdrist Farm at Tshipise near Messina about testimony they […]

(FXI/IFEX) – According to a 2 April 1998 report by FXI, the South African National Civic Organization (Sanco) announced on 31 March that it would picket the offices of the “Sunday Independent” newspaper on 8 April because of what Sanco claims to be “malicious reports” about a split in the organization and an alleged R1.3 […]

(MISA/IFEX) – According to MISA, on 18 March 1998, the provincial portfolio committee on public works in the Mpumalanga legislature rejected an attempt by journalists to table questions during the committee’s sessions. It followed a written question from journalists requesting details of a threatened multi-million rand damages suit against the provincial government by German aviation […]

(FXI/IFEX) – According to FXI, on 16 March 1998, the Johannesburg High Court granted author Allen Greenblo and publisher Jonathan Ball leave to appeal against the banning of the book “Kerzner Unauthorised”, about hotel magnate Sol Kerzner. No date has been set for the hearing. **Updates IFEX alerts of 27 and 29 October 1997, and […]

(FXI/IFEX) – FXI is appalled by reports that there may be attempts in Parliament to amend the constitution to facilitate the merger of the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) and the South African Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (SATRA). This as a naked attempt to remove the constitutionally protected independence of the IBA (section 192 of which states […]

(IPI/IFEX) – Newton Kanhema, a senior reporter for “The Sunday Independent” and a citizen of Zimbabwe, has been ordered deported from South Africa. The Department of Home Affairs is trying to serve a letter of notice to Kanhema, which gives him 21 days to leave South Africa. Kanhema is currently on a four-month sabbatical at […]

(FXI/IFEX) – The Department of Housing and Land Affairs in the Gauteng provincial government has laid criminal charges against “Sunday Times” journalist Elias Maluleke for the alleged theft of confidential documents. The department claims the documents, which it says where illegally removed from its offices, provided the basis of an article by Maluleke which appeared […]

(FXI/IFEX) – On 9 December 1997, police arrested the national secretary of the anti-crime group, People Against Gangsterism and Drugs (PAGAD), Abeedah Roberts, for allegedly being in possession of a “top secret” intelligence report. The police swooped on her home in Cape Town in a pre-dawn raid and in terms of the warrant were in […]