Government refuses to grant Dalai Lama visa to attend and speak at peace conference
(FXI/IFEX) – The following in an FXI press release: FXI CONDEMNS THE GAGGING OF THE DALAI LAMA BY THE SOUTH AFRICAN GOVERNMENT FXI condemns the gagging of the Dalai Lama by the South African Government (“Government”), which amounts to a serious violation of the South African public’s constitutionally protected right to freedom of expression on […]
Ruling party revives debate on media tribunal
(MISA/IFEX) – South Africa’s ruling party, the African National Congress (ANC) says its view on establishing a media tribunal is “shifting”. The party says that the South African media is historically hostile towards it, the online news agency News24 reported on 23 March 2009. News24 quoted ANC’s spokesperson, Jessie Duarte, saying the media tribunal proposal […]
State broadcaster SABC responds to allegations that it manipulated news for political purposes
(MISA/IFEX) – On 11 March 2009, the SABC denied allegations that its head of news, Snuki Zikalala, manipulated content for political purposes. “The Mail and Guardian” online reports that the Freedom of Expression Institute (FXI) had earlier accused the public broadcaster and Zikalala of manipulating content at a hearing by the Independent Communications Authority of […]
Parliament adopts amended broadcasting bill
(MISA/IFEX) – On 17 February 2009, the South Africa National Assembly adopted the Broadcasting Amendment Bill, having made the changes that were necessary to bring it in line with the constitution, after President Kgalema Motlanthe had referred the bill back to the lawmakers, said South African media reports. Ruling African National Congress (ANC) members of […]
Unidentified “Pretoria News” journalist shot and wounded during police standoff at university
(MISA/IFEX) – An unidentified “Pretoria News” journalist was shot six times by the police during a standoff between the police and students at Tshwane University of Technology in Pretoria on 11 February 2009. Several people were injured when police fired a barrage of rubber bullets at hundreds of students protesting at the university. The journalist […]
President refuses to sign bill on films and publications, returns it to parliament
(MISA/IFEX) – President Kgalema Motlanthe has reportedly refused to sign the Films and Publications Amendment Bill, questioning its constitutionality and returning it “untouched” to Parliament. The controversial bill, drafted by the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) and initially meant to fight child pornography, has been referred back to Parliament in terms of Section 79(1) of […]
World Report 2009: South Africa
World Report 2009: South Africa
SPEAKING OUT FOR FREE EXPRESSION 1987-2007 AND BEYOND: South Africa
SPEAKING OUT FOR FREE EXPRESSION 1987-2007 AND BEYOND: South Africa
Broadcast journalists claim intimidation from political parties
(MISA/IFEX) – Journalists from the South Africa Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) said they are experiencing intimidation as the country draws closer to the most bitterly contested elections in recent history, wrote Jocelyn Newmarch in “Business Day” of 5 December 2008. The elections are due to take place in 2009. The broadcaster’s group chief of news and […]
SABC journalists allegedly intimidated by political party representatives, opposition parties concerned over SABC board’s appearance before Parliamentary Portfolio Committee
(MISA/IFEX) – The following is a MISA press release: SABC to appear before the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Communications The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) is due to appear before the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Communications on Tuesday, 18 November 2008. The SABC Board is expected to respond to allegations of incompetence. Last year, the […]
FXI calls on president to release report on enquiry into official’s fitness to hold office
(FXI/IFEX) – The following is an FXI press statement: FXI requests President Motlanthe to make the Ginwala Commission’s Report public The Freedom of Expression Institute (FXI) has written to President Kgalema Motlanthe to request that he make the Ginwala Commission’s Report on the fitness of Adv Pokoli to hold the office of National Director of […]
University begins disciplinary proceedings against two professors for voicing criticisms of vice chancellor to the media
(FXI/IFEX) – The following is an abridged version of a FXI press release: FXI distressed by disciplinary action against two UKZN professors The Freedom of Expression Institute (FXI) is distressed by the University of KwaZulu/ Natal’s (UKZN) decision to institute disciplinary proceedings against two of the University’s Professors, Nithaya Chetty and John van den Berg. […]
Swazi journalist harassed, his photos deleted by police while covering border protest
(MISA/IFEX) – On 27 October 2008 Sisho Magagula, a journalist with the state-owned “Swazi Observer” newspaper was harassed and had his digital camera confiscated and prints deleted by South African police while covering a border blockade protest by Swazi and South Africa trade unions. This harassment took place at the Swaziland and South Africa border […]
Cartoonist receives death threats, faces possible legal action over controversial cartoon
(CRNI/IFEX) – The following is a CRNI press release: CRNI learned on September 16 that South African cartoonist Jonathan Shapiro (aka: Zapiro) is once again under a legal threat from ANC presidential candidate Jacob Zuma. Further, threats are being made on his life by angry supports from the ANC party. A cartoon that ran in […]
Judicial hearings should be accessible to the public and allowed to be broadcast live, says FXI
(FXI/IFEX) – The following is a 23 July 2008 FXI press statement: FXI submission argues for JSC hearings into Hlophe complaint to be public Earlier today, the Freedom of Expression Institute (FXI) made a submission to the Judicial Services Commission (JSC) calling for the hearing to investigate the alleged misconduct of the Constitutional Court Judges […]
Court ruling on disclosure of classified documents encourages and disappoints at the same time, says FXI
(FXI/IFEX) – The following is a 5 June 2008 FXI press release: Constitutional Court’s recent decision in the case of Independent Newspapers and the Minister of Intelligence encourages and disappoints at the same time The Freedom of Expression Institute (FXI) has noted the judgment handed down by the Constitutional Court on 22 May 2008 in […]