South Africa: South African National Editors Forum joins with others for free speech campaign

The South Africa National Editors' Forum has announced the launch of "a coalition to spearhead efforts to promote and entrench freedom of speech across all levels of South African society." The Coalition for Free Speech will aim to challenge the Protection of Information Bill, seen as secrecy legislation, as well the African National Congress's proposed media appeals tribunal.

SANEF members defined their goals at a meeting in Johannesburg on August 30. The new Coalition will "champion a collective drive by media, big business and civil society to amplify the importance of free speech as a pillar of our democracy and not just a matter which concerns media," a SANEF press release said. The organisation's planned campaign will focus on illustrating the principle that "more information is better than less" in issues relevant to all South Africans. 

The Right2Know campaign is being conducted in conjunction with Idasa, the Institute for Security Studies, the South African History Archives, the Freedom of Expression Institute and the Mail & Guardian Centre for Investigative Journalism, the Mail & Guardian reported. Further backing has come from international bodies such as Global Witness, Access Info Europe, the African Information Centre and Transparency International.

"We feel it is important that the current debate on media freedom be contextualised within the framework of a broader free speech culture in South African society," said SANEF's chairperson Mondli Makhanya.

The proposed Protection of Information Bill has raised concerns over press freedom in the country as it would make news about commercial governmental contracts, state-owned enterprise and state entities, for example, classified information. The parliament also recently announced the creation of a media tribunal to oversee the media and stop 'unfair' criticism. Both are believed by many to present clear challenges to press freedom and free speech in the country.

"The proposed legislation would shield the government from press scrutiny and effectively criminalize activities essential to investigative journalism," WAN-IFRA said in a letter on 24 August addressed to the President of South Africa, Jacob Zuma, calling for an amendment or withdrawal of the bill and the proposal for a tribunal. The Right2Know campaign has similarly called for significant amendments to the bill.

A public awareness week will be launched in South Africa on October 19, including a public march to Parliament.  

-September 01, 2010 by Emma Heald

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Source:www.editorsweblog.org/newsrooms_and_journalism/2010/09/south_african_national_editors_forum_joi.php  (accessed on 01.09.10)