Freedom of Expression Institute (FXI)

(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 […]

(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 […]

(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 […]

(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 […]