IFEX - News from the international freedom of expression community
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PRESS RELEASE/ALERT - SOUTH AFRICA

14 November 2003

FXI alarmed over rising number of cases affecting media freedom

SOURCE: Freedom of Expression Institute (FXI), Johannesburg

**For further information on journalists who have been subpoenaed to testify
before the Hefer Commission, see IFEX alerts of 14 and 12 November, 17, 15 and 9
October 2003**

(FXI/IFEX) - The following is an FXI statement:

Re: Increasing inroads into media freedom is cause for serious concern

The Freedom of Expression Institute has signaled its deep alarm at the rising
number of cases affecting media freedom as well as the increasing inroads into
media freedom in South Africa in the recent past.

In a statement released to the media this morning, the FXI stated that in the
last few months, the media has come under increasing strain from both state and
non-state sources, a situation that raises serious concerns regarding the
conditions under which the media is able to operate and fulfill its
constitutional mandate of informing the public.

The FXI observed that since the beginning of October, Judge Joos Hefer, who is
currently chairing the Hefer Commission, has been attempting to get journalists
to testify and even possibly reveal some of their sources of information around
the allegations that National Director of Public Prosecutions Bulelani Ngcuka
had been investigated by the African National Congress (ANC) as a possible
apartheid spy. At the same time, two journalists working with the Sunday Times
have been ordered by the Cape High Court to hand over their notes and tape
recordings of any interviews or conversations relating to the civil case between
prominent author Wilbur Smith and his stepson.

The institute also pointed out that last week, the Pretoria High Court slapped a
gag order against the Mail and Guardian, prohibiting it from publishing
information relating to corruption allegations against a well-connected local
businessman Walter Senoko and his company, Positioning Corporate Underwriters
and Consultants. Similarly, the FXI said that on Thursday this week, it was
reported in the local media that hidden listening devices had been discovered in
the studios and offices of one of the community radio stations, Radio Pretoria.

The FXI said that all these cases demonstrate a clear trend that media in the
country is coming under increasing pressure and the audacity with which the
violations are taking place indicates a continuing dilution of the
constitutional right of the media to operate freely and openly.

The institute expressed its deep concerns about this state of affairs and
urgently called upon the general public, institutions of state and private
entities to respect and refrain from unduly interfering with the media. It also
laid emphasis on the crucial role that a critical and independent media plays in
fostering an open and accountable democracy especially at this time when
malpractices in the public and private sphere in South Africa are increasingly
becoming commonplace.

For further information, contact Simon Kimani Ndung'u, Head, Anti-censorship
Programme, FXI at P.O. Box 30668, Braamfontein, 2017, Johannesburg (Street
Address: 21st floor, Sable Centre, 41 De Korte Street, Braamfontein, 2001,
Johannesburg), South Africa, tel: +27 11 403 8403/4, fax: +27 11 403 8309,
e-mail: [email protected], [email protected], Internet: http://fxi.org.za

The information contained in this press release/alert is the sole responsibility
of FXI. In citing this material for broadcast or publication, please credit FXI.
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