press freedom

The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) will seek an urgent meeting with the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leadership to discuss the party’s threats to journalists working for the Gupta family’s media companies.

In a press statement, following SANEF’s council meeting in Cape Town, the organisation says it is also concerned about ‘direct proprietal/managerial interference in editorial decision-making processes’, and had decided on further steps in this regard.

The South African National Editors Forum (SANEF) has come out to condemn the intimidation of journalists as well as the confiscation of their footage by law enforcement officers.

This follows the incident in Alexandra during which Mozambican national, Emmanuel Sithole, was killed and as a result, SANEF has approached Police Commissioner, Riah Phiyega, to raise their concerns over such incidents.

The South African National Editors' Forum (SANEF) has condemned the reported manhandling of a journalist by police outside Parliament.

News24 reporter Jan Gerber says he was forced to delete pictures.

The incident came ahead of President Jacob Zuma's first oral reply session of the year, which will start shortly.

To read the article titled, “Journalist manhandled outside of parliament,” click here.
 

The Department of International Relations and Cooperation reports that the South African government has condemned the attack on French satire magazine, Charlie Hebdo in which 12 people were killed in Paris.

In a statement, Department of International Relations and Cooperation deputy director general, Clayson Monyela states that, “The South African government joins the international community in condemning the calculated and barbaric terrorist attack on journalists and members of the public in Paris, France...”

Following the killing of 12 people at France's Charlie Hebdo weekly, renowned cartoonist Jonathan Shapiro known as Zapiro warns of shrinking media freedom.

Zapiro, whose drawings are published by the Mail & Guardian, told the paper he hoped the attack in Paris "doesn't have a further chilling effect on satirists, commentators and journalists; any free thinkers in society".

The Committee for the Protection of Journalists (CPJ), a global media watchdog, urges Zimbabwe to guarantee the safety of journalists after a reporter was beaten up and detained by the police.
 
Tapiwa Zivira, a journalist with the privately-owned NewsDay newspaper was attacked days after President Robert Mugabe's wife, Grace, accused reporters at independent newspapers of writing lies about her.
 
The CPJ states that, Zivira was attacked with batons after filming police beating street vendors and others.
 

Around 200 people marched in Cape Town on Saturday, 18 October 2014, to demand lower mobile call rates and media transformation.
 
The group blew whistles as they marched down Long Street and carried signs stating ‘Free Set Top Box’ and ‘Media for the people’.
 
A rapper, on the truck leading the march, belted out catchy lyrics calling for free Internet and media.
 
To read the article titled, “Right2Know marches for 'media for the people',” click here.

The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Zambia, has challenged the alleged decision of the National Assembly to bar its members from covering the opening of the Fourth Session of the 11th National Assembly.

MISA described the decision as discriminatory and a violation of press freedom.

The South African National Editors' Forum (SANEF) expressed shock at the conviction and sentencing of three Al Jazeera journalists in Egypt.

In a press statement, SANEF points out that, "What started off as the dawn of the Arab Spring has turned into a nightmare where freedoms of Egyptian people are treated with disdain by the ruling military-aligned government."

SANEF, which is part of the African Editors' Forum, is calling on the African Union Commission to ensure that the summit condemned the sentencing of the journalists.

The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) calls for the Protection of State Information Bill to be sent to the Constitutional Court for ratification before it is signed into law.

In a statement to mark International Press Freedom Day, SANEF’s chairperson, Mpumelelo Mkhabela, says a public interest defence clause in the Bill would truly enhance the ability of media to assist in the fight against corruption.