Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA)

The government has warned that it will revoke operating licences of all radio stations airing political campaign songs before the date of the tripartite elections is announced.

According to media reports, Yarona FM broadcast allegations that the MP was bribed while accompanying the under 23 national football team on a friendly match in China.

News editor Welile Dlamini challenged Prime Minister Sibusiso Dlamini on his assertion that press freedom exists when in fact the authorities regularly instruct the state radio station about its content.

In one incident, camera operator Cuthbert Miti was surrounded, beaten and pushed around by a mob which attemped to confiscate his camera equipment.

In its seventh formal mission to Tunisia, and the second visit since deposed President Zine El Abedine Ben Ali fled the country, an IFEX-TMG delegation spent over a week meeting a wide range of stakeholders as part of the ongoing assessment of the state of freedom of expression in the country.

According to media reports, riot police fired teargas and water cannons, assaulted demonstrators and confiscated journalists’ equipment in an attempt to stop the three-day protests.

Assistant Police Commisioner Thakane Theko has accused journalist Relebohile Moyeye and the radio station of defaming her by alleging that she was involved in fraudulent activities.

The prime minister assured Parliament his government would track down and prosecute Gangadza Masilela over his critical Facebook posts.