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

13 May 2005

SABC journalists harassed by government officials in separate incidents

SOURCE: Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA), Windhoek

(MISA/IFEX) - In the first week of May, provincial government officials
barred South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) television journalists
and a camera crew from entering the Limpopo provincial legislature to report
on the Lebowakgomo government's budget vote. They were allegedly thrown out
after refusing to leave their cameras at the door.

Two weeks earlier, Premier Sello Moloto's political adviser Jack Mokobi
reportedly stormed into the SABC offices in Polokwane to complain about the
"harsh" manner in which politicians were interviewed and to demand that
Thobela FM's Willie Mosoma be removed from his post as current affairs
presenter. Mokobi allegedly accused Mosoma of being biased against
politicians from the ruling African National Congress (ANC).

Representatives from the SABC's Limpopo regional office have since met with
the premier of Limpopo, and the meeting was seen as a positive step in
improving relations. Speaking to MISA-South Africa, the SABC said it
promised to monitor relations and gave assurances that its reporters would
cover a wide range of stories in the province in accordance with accepted
journalistic principles and the SABC editorial code. The Limpopo provincial
government could not be reached for comment.

MISA-South Africa condemns this conduct by officials as an outrageous breach
of South Africa's Constitution. The organisation calls on the national
government to strengthen and clarify legislation to ensure that state
officials at all levels of government are held accountable for their
constitutional responsibilities.

BACKGROUND:
The South African government is showing increasing signs of intolerance
towards any form of free expression following the announcement made by
Minerals and Energy Minister Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka that the government may
consider enacting legislation that would make it a criminal offence to
"spread allegations or false rumours amounting to the incitement of panic".
The proposed legislation will be aimed at the media and "any organisation
acting irresponsibly".

For further information, contact Zoé Titus, Programme Manager, Media Freedom
Monitoring, MISA, Private Bag 13386 Windhoek, Namibia, tel: +264 61 232 975,
fax: +264 61 248 016, e-mail: [email protected], Internet:
http://www.misa.org

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