South African police repeatedly force journalists to delete photos
March 20, 2015 5:19 PM ET
South Africa is synonymous with crime in the eyes of many--as evidenced by the recent mugging of a TV crew live on camera--but for the press, a more sinister threat to freedom lies in the growing number of cases...
South Africa's new communications ministry causes concern
May 30, 2014 10:40 AM ET
Freedom of expression advocates in South Africa are concerned that the new Ministry of Communications, announced by President Jacob Zuma when he unveiled his cabinet on May 25, will compromise the independence of the public broadcaster and serve as...
Twitter war shines light on how Rwanda intimidates press
March 24, 2014 5:00 PM ET
"@RFI speak straight up English, frenchie!! U crying? U started not to make sense," was one taunting tweet from a certain prolific Twitter account belonging to "Richard Goldston." The account, since deleted, belonging to a self-proclaimed "anti-imperialist," repeatedly antagonized...
Pressure on Journalists Rises Along With Africa's Prospects
February 12, 2014 2:13 AM ET
After a decade of unprecedented growth and development, the insistence on positive news remains a significant threat to press freedom in sub-Saharan Africa. By Mohamed Keita A newspaper displayed in the Ikoyi district of Lagos on September 30, 2013, tells...
Mandela's Legacy of Media Freedom Stands Its Ground
February 12, 2014 2:11 AM ET
How robust are the institutional safeguards that underpin Nelson Mandela's vision of a strong and independent South African media? By Sue Valentine Nelson Mandela, pictured in May 2011, sometimes accused critical black journalists of disloyalty during his presidency. (AFP/Elmond Jiyane)...
Zuma should send secrecy bill for further review
November 14, 2013 12:11 PM ET
New York, November 14, 2013--The Committee to Protect Journalists urges South African President Jacob Zuma not to sign the revised Protection of State Information Bill and instead to send it to the Constitutional Court for review. The bill, which was...
CPJ urges President Zuma to block secrecy bill
May 12, 2013 5:45 PM ET
Dear President Zuma: We are writing to express our concern about South Africa's Protection of State Information Bill and join with civil society organizations in your country in urging you to send the bill back to the National Assembly for further revision when it comes to you for confirmation.
Worrying trends at South Africa's public broadcaster
December 18, 2012 4:32 PM ET
South Africa is in the midst of one of its most important political events--the ruling African National Congress's Mangaung elective conference, which takes place once every five years to shape policy and elect new leadership. Because of the power...
South African journalists probed over scandal coverage
July 30, 2012 7:00 PM ET
Johannesburg, July 30, 2012--South African authorities should immediately drop a criminal investigation against three newspaper journalists who have sought to report details on a multi-billion-dollar arms scandal, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today....