The new ministry of communication seems a direct intervention to stem negative publicity for President Jacob Zuma and the ANC, Christi van der Westhuizen
South Africa’s new “ministry of propaganda” aims to control free flow of information
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Christi van der Westhuizen
Christi van der Westhuizen
Independent News becomes an oxymoron in South Africa
In what seems like a purge, South Africa’s Independent News and Media (INM) group is shedding many of its foremost journalists and commentators. Simultaneously, the company’s newspapers have stepped up coverage of the personal ruminations of its new chairperson, Dr Iqbal Survé. Christi van der Westhuizen reports
South Africa: Cape Times in crisis as editor fired after corruption story
The sacking of a renowned journalist has sent shockwaves through the grieving country’s media. Christi Van Der Westhuizen reports
South Africa’s ruling ANC gunning for “censorship lite”
South Africa’s ANC has changed tack in its campaign to curtail the media. In a turn to what could be called “censorship lite”, the iron fist of state security intervention is being augmented by the velvet glove of calls for “patriotic” journalism. Christi van der Westhuizen reports
South Africa: Confronting choices about free expression
As the G20 nations prepare to meet in St Petersburg, Russia in early September, Index on Censorship is exploring the nations’ records on free expression. Today: Christi van der Westhuizen reports on South Africa
After court appeal ANC decides to allow Zuma no confidence vote — but in February
South Africa’s highest court, the Constitutional Court, last week agreed to hear an application about a motion of no confidence in President Jacob...
Police raid Belarus Free Theatre performance in Minsk
On 8 December police entered the rented Minsk premises of the Belarus Free Theatre (BFT) and forced the actors and members of the 60-person audience...
Banning Lady Gaga — South Africa’s media take a stand
US pop superstar Lady Gaga’s first sojourn to South Africa has raised the hackles of newspaper editors and religious fundamentalists alike. Local...
“Secrets kill democracy” — Activists protest oppressive secrecy bill
South Africa's Right2Know Campaign (R2K) is “Camping out for Openness” outside parliament in Cape Town this week as deliberations over the draconian...
Calls for insult laws to protect South African President Zuma from criticism
The South African Communist Party (SACP) this week made a public call for a law to be instituted to protect the country’s president against...
Anti-Boer song ignites incitement debate
In South Africa, the singing of "struggle songs" remains a bone of contention. Some South Africans contend, along with the courts, that songs should...
Former Belarusian presidential candidate Andrei Sannikov gets UK asylum
Andrei Sannikov, a former political prisoner from Belarus, has been granted asylum in the UK. Sannikov told the Charter97 website: It was not a...