Posts Tagged ‘South Africa’
December 14th, 2010
South African president,
Jacob Zuma has filed a $440,000 defamation lawsuit over a cartoon depicting him as a
rapist of the justice system. The cartoon, published in 2008 by South Africa’s Sunday Times, depicts Zuma pulling his trousers down and about to rape a woman symbolising the justice system, aided by allies. One of Zuma’s allies depicted in the cartoon, filed a complaint about the cartoon before South Africa’s Human Rights Commission in 2008, however the commission concluded that the cartoon did not violate Zuma’s constitutional right to dignity or constitute hate speech.
August 6th, 2010
The ruling African National Congress (ANC) is
proposing a law which would entitle the South African government to prevent journalists investigating or publishing anything deemed to be in the national interest. The law would introduce a Media tribunal, where the government would effectively judge what the media could publish. Another section would force journalists to reveal confidential sources. Critics claim p
ress freedom is already under threat in South Africa; recently journalist Mzilikazi wa Afrika was arrested just days after reporting on a large property deal undertaken by the National Police Commissioner Bheki Cele. Cole had vocally attacked wa Afrika over the article.June 2nd, 2010
Following criticism from Muslim groups, the
Mail & Guardian newspaper has apologised for publishing a satirical cartoon depicting the prophet Mohammed, and have agreed to refrain from publishing images of him in the future.. The cartoon, by resident illustrator Zapiro, sparked fierce debate and anger when it was published as part of the Facebook-organised Draw Mohammed Day on May 20. The newspaper’s apology comes after a meeting between editorial staff and the United Muslim Forum of South Africa.
March 19th, 2010
A prominent South African newspaper has accused the African National Congress Youth League of using
intimidation and fear to silence journalists. An editorial in the Business Day claimed that the youth wing of South Africa’s governing party have made “blatant attempts” to limit freedom of expression. Nineteen political correspondents have written an o
pen letter of complaint after youth league spokesman Floyd Shivambu threatened several reporters when attempting to ‘leak’ a dossier. The National Editors Forum has also urged president Jacob Zuma to
rein in the organisation from making personal attacks on individual media workers.
March 19th, 2010
The leader of the youth wing of South Africa’s ruling African National Congress (ANC) has been
found guilty of hate speech. Julius Malema has been ordered to apologise for remarks he made last year, which suggested that the women who accused President Jacob Zuma of rape had enjoyed the experience. The prominent South African politician was ordered by the Equality Court to pay 50,000 rand to a shelter for abused women. Zuma was
acquitted of rape in 2006 after he insisted that the sex with his accuser was consensual.
July 31st, 2009
The Guardian has published an apology and has settled out of court for an undisclosed amount with the South African President. The paper had described president Zuma in an article as a rapist. President Zuma, although brought to court for both rape and corruption was not convicted as guilty. Read more
hereJune 5th, 2009
The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) is charging the Mail and Guardian with theft, after the newspaper posted an episode of satirical programme ‘Special Assignment’ on its website.Read more
hereMay 20th, 2009
The Freedom of Expression Institute fights for and defends freedom of expression, opposes censorship and fights for the right of equal access to information and knowledge. FXI proactively develops policy to ensure the free flow of information and fight for media diversity.
