Wednesday 10 of February 2010
MISA-South Africa Monthly Alerts Digest January 2010
In this issue: Shifts on the public broadcasters’ management and freedom of expression questioned: by Tumelo Tshabalala
1. In this issue: Shifts on the public broadcasters’ management and freedom of expression questioned: by Tumelo Tshabalala
2010 started with exciting and challenging outcries for South African media. Before we look at the events that took place January 2010, lets’ look back on the previous year 2009 December where the interim board of the South African Broadcasting Cooperation (SABC) handed over to the permanent board to serve the public broadcaster. The interim board was tasked to put in place a strategy and overturn the existing crisis within six (6) months by the minister of communications Sphiwe Nyanda.
The interim board handed over this reign to the appointed board in December 2009, post still to be filled like that of Head of News currently headed by the acting Phil Molefe. The interim board also made a controversial move when it appointed the chief executive of the broadcaster Solly Mokoetle, which raised concerns due to the fact that group chief executive is appointed by the permanent board.
Issues surrounding the public broadcaster are expected to be resolved this year. Month of January saw the South African media taking a knock when two journalists Ben Said and Mpho Lakaje, employed by the commercial broadcaster e.tv were subpoenaed. This after broadcast of a story on threatening the safety of the world cup plans. The ruling party African National Congress (ANC) demanded e.tv to help police arrest the criminals. Lakaje's story, aired 15 January 2010, featured interviews with two criminals who had threatened to say they will rob tourists during the World Cup and they will shoot their way put of a standoff with the police if they felt their lives are in danger. Said and Lejake had since stood firm they will not reveal any information of the alleged criminals they interviewed. They would also not submit the unedited footage of the interview to the prosecutors’.
MISA-South Africa, condemns both ANC and Police actions in this case and calls on the police to withdraw the subpoena against eNews journalists. MISA-South Africa views the reaction by the police in this regard as infringement to freedom of expression in South Africa. It is the duty of the police to investigate and arrest criminals and thus would be unethical to expect the media to reveal its sources in a bid to gratify the police and ANC in particular. The story by eNews served to awaken the police of what to expect during the upcoming world event and thus should not be viewed as a threat to the World Cup. MISA-South Africa further calls on the South African Government to see to it that issues behind the 2010 FIFA World Cup should not destroy the existing conducive atmosphere for journalist to operate without fear or favour.
Also expressing opinions were media advocates, South African Editors’ Forum (SANEF), Freedom of Expression Institute (FXI), Media Monitoring Association (MMA) and Professional Journalists Association (Projourn) amongst others in questioning the freedom of expression in the country not only focusing on the e.tv issue. Many argued that this issue seem to raise tempers to which the ANC and Police are only focusing on the World Cup more than anything else, but what happens after the world.
Meanwhile the Federation International of Football Association (FIFA) has brought uncertainty in ensuring normal journalistic practise prevailing. In recent, Fifa alerted media houses of the requirements in seeking accreditation to cover the 2010 world event, “this may well infringe South Africa’s constitutional right to freedom of expression”, says media lawyer also deputy chairperson of MISA-South Africa Raymond Louw. Louw was responding to the restrictions made by Fifa, in particular on video content for website. “They include requirements that will severely restrict digital platforms, forbid reporters to reveal the names of the visiting teams and prohibit the scale of newspapers within an 800m radius of stadiums. They also include a paradoxical clause guaranteeing freedom of expression, while insisting that new reports should not bring Fifa into dispute”, Louw said.
Pamela Stein of law firm Webber Wentzel Bowens, who is consulted by local media organisations, said she is “very concerned” about the number of regulations. One particular worrying clause requires that news reports should not “detract” from the football. Stein pointed out that if a commentator wants to write about racism without authorisation from Fifa, he or she would be breaching the conditions of his or her accreditation. “That’s unheard of in democracy”, she said. Louw has ruled out the possibility of a court battle stating is it expensive and long – winded.
In addition, accreditation closes end of January 2010.
2. Media Violation Statistics January 2010
Victim / Concerned Party
eNews journalists, Ben Said and Mpho Lejake
Violation / event / issue
eNews journalists subpoenaed after a story on thugs’ world cup plans
Date
15 January 2010
Verdict
The case has been postpone for mediation.
MISA-SA Information Officer
Tumelo Tshabalala
Tell: 011 339 6767
Fax: 011 339 9888
Cell: 082 7156 927
Email: info@misa-sa.org.za
Website: www.misa-sa.org.za
- February 10, 2010 Tumelo Tshabalala
……………..
Source: www.misa.org (received via email alert on 10.02.10)