The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) held a successful, elective annual general meeting where Eyewitness News editor-in-chief Sbu Ngalwa was re-elected as the chairperson.
Sowetan editor Nwabisa Makunga was elected as the deputy chairperson while New Frame associate editor, Monica Laganparsad, was voted in as the secretary-general.
Tshwane University of Technology broadcast media lecturer Tshamano Makhadi is the new Treasurer-General.
The AGM spent time focusing on the mental health of journalists as they continue to experience various, differing traumas.
SANEF remains deeply concerned about the safety and wellness of frontline journalists who are often the first respondents and witnesses to natural disasters and violence.
During the organisation’s AGM, Cassey Chambers, from the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG), addressed the meeting on the urgent need for newsrooms to attend and prioritise journalists’ mental wellness.
Chambers said SADAG is of the view that journalists experience high levels of depression and anxiety, further indicating that they experience more post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) than doctors working on the frontline. She said worryingly, journalists often checked all seventeen boxes on the PTSD checklist.
The AGM decided to establish a safety and wellness sub-committee, to be chaired by Katy Katopodis. The committee’s focus will be to champion SANEF’s efforts to address mental health support journalists and pay special attention to the growing incidences of violence, including personal threats and the cyberbullying of journalists.
Members of the media are encouraged to contact SANEF as and when their freedom to report is infringed upon. The other highlight of the AGM was the address by Dr Patrice Motsepe, president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF). Elected in March last year, Motsepe reiterated the importance of media freedom and how the work of SANEF must be supported. He said any kind of harassment of journalists should be condemned and journalists should not keep quiet when such behaviour occurs.
The AGM also elected the chairpersons of the following sub-committees:
Makhudu Sefara: Media Freedom
Phathiswa Magopeni: Education and Training
Izaak Minnaar: Access to Information and Media Policy
Qaanitah Hunter: Media Ethics and Diversity
Dunisani Ntsanwisi: Community Media
Note to Editors:
The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) is a non-profit organisation whose members are editors, senior journalists, and journalism trainers from all areas of the South African media. We are committed to championing South Africa’s hard-won freedom of expression and promoting quality, ethics, and diversity in the South African media. We promote excellence in journalism through fighting for media freedom, writing policy submissions, research and education and training programmes. SANEF is not a union.
The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) calls on the publishers of the SA Jewish Report to reconsider their position, following the publication’s expulsion from the Press Council of South Africa.
SANEF finds it unfortunate that the South African Jewish Report forced the hand of the Press Council of South Africa (PCSA) to take the unprecedented action of expelling the SAJR after the publication refused to abide by the rulings of the Acting Press Ombud and the PCSA Chair of Appeals, Judge Bernard Ngoepe.
The matter stemmed from a complaint by the SA BDS Coalition and GIWUSA v SA Jewish Report. According to Press Council Chair Judge Phillip Levinsohn, the decision was taken after lengthy correspondence and after the SA Jewish Report had refused to abide by the finding against them. Judge Levinsohn said the Council spent time seeking to resolve the issue. However, the SA Jewish Report refused to publish the ruling against them.
SANEF calls on all members of the PCSA to respect the Press Council and its rulings. The Press Council is the bulwark against interference in the media and any self-respecting media organisation should be a member of the Press Council.
The Press Council continues to adjudicate complaints by members of the public and their findings, regardless of how they affect any member, must be respected.
The work of the PCSA is important in strengthening our democracy and ensuring that freedom of speech is protected while the highest ethical standards are upheld by the media.
SANEF reiterates our support for the Press Council and wish to implore all members, who subscribe to the principles of the co-regulatory mechanism, to remain committed to the system which is regarded as one of the best in the world.
We note that the Press Council is a voluntary, co-regulatory, public-dominated body which, inter alia, mediates and hand down binding ruling in terms of the Press Code. It does that to ensure ethical, fair, journalism.
We also wish to remind those who join the PCSA that they inadvertently commit to being bound by, and to publish, rulings of the Press Ombud and the Press Council’s appeals bodies. It should also be noted that dissatisfied parties with Press Ombuds’ rulings have the right to take them on appeal to the Appeals Panel, headed by an eminent, retired Judge, and if they are still unhappy, that can take the process on judicial review.
It is our view that no member of the Press Council should simply refuse to publish rulings against them. Therefore, compliance by the council’s members is deemed essential for its sustainability and credibility. Hence, the idea of simply refusing to adhere to its rulings not only undermines the Press Council but is also unfair to the complainants.
We implore the publishers of the SA Jewish Report to reconsider their position and abide by the ruling and to return to the fold of the PCSA.
Note to Editors: The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) is a non-profit organisation whose members are editors, senior journalists, and journalism trainers from all areas of the South African media. We are committed to championing South Africa’s hard-won freedom of expression and promoting quality, ethics, and diversity in the South African media. We promote excellence in journalism through fighting for media freedom, writing policy submissions, research and education and training programmes. SANEF is not a union.
The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) is deeply saddened and wishes to lodge the strongest possible protest at the death of Al Jazeera journalist, Shereen Abu Akleh. She was shot dead while reporting in the Jenin refugee camp and she was clearly identified as Press.
Abu Akleh was hit by an Israeli live bullet on Wednesday morning, according to witnesses, as she covered an Israeli military raid in the occupied West Bank city of Jenin. Abu Akleh was a Palestinian-American journalist who worked as a reporter for the Arabic-language channel Al Jazeera for 25 years and was a household name across the Middle East for her decades of reporting in the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories.
According to Article 79 of the Geneva Conventions, Journalists engaged in professional missions in areas of armed conflict are considered civilians. As such, they may not be targeted. They are protected by their civilian status, on the condition that they refrain from any activity that might jeopardize their civilian status and character.
We note that journalists, acting honestly as the eyes and ears of the public at large, are increasingly being targeted by authoritarian regimes who wish to keep repressive and often murderous actions secret. This is a violation of international law that protect them whether it be in a non-international or an international armed conflict.
We are gravely concerned that this year alone, more than 16 journalists have been killed in regions ranging from Mexico to Ukraine. We also condemn the killing of all the journalists in Ukraine – and we wish to remind all communities around the world that journalists in conflict zones provide the service to the world and their role should be respected.
SANEF extends its deepest condolences to Abu Akleh’s family, friends, and all colleagues in the industry around the world.
Note to Editors: The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) is a non-profit organisation whose members are editors, senior journalists, and journalism trainers from all areas of the South African media. We are committed to championing South Africa’s hard-won freedom of expression and promoting quality, ethics, and diversity in the South African media. We promote excellence in journalism through fighting for media freedom, writing policy submissions, research and education and training programmes. SANEF is not a union.
South Africa is facing several threats to freedom of expression with at least 59 separate incidents where journalists were subjected to physical or verbal attacks and harassment, Amnesty International South Africa, Campaign for Free Expression, Committee to Protect Journalists, Media Monitoring Africa, and the South African National Editors’ Forum said on World Press Freedom Day.
These include attacks on journalists by police, political parties, and the public; online threats targeting journalists such as hate speech, harassment, and doxxing; the surveillance of journalists by state intelligence; overly punitive legislation that targets journalists or limits their ability to report; and the ongoing vulnerability of senior journalists at the public broadcaster.
All of these are restricting the right to free expression in the country and have the potential to limit the right of the public to access information in the public interest. These issues must be properly addressed by the state in order to prevent a weakening of free expression in the country.
Last month, our five organisations made a joint submission to the UN Universal Periodic Review (UPR) focusing on South Africa’s compliance with international human rights obligations related to freedom of opinion and expression. The UPR is a review of the human rights records of all UN member states held every four years. Our submission also looks at progress made since the last UPR review in 2017.
The submission details concerns over a number of issues, notably the physical attacks and harassment of journalists; online attacks and surveillance of journalists, “false news” and editorial interference at the SABC.
While the media in South Africa enjoys more freedom than many of their counterparts on the continent and other parts of the world, they still find themselves facing a barrage of attacks on a daily basis, physically and online. Trust in the media has also waned over the past few years, especially because of misinformation and disinformation.
Physical attacks and harassment of journalists
In the past five years there have been at least 59 separate incidents where journalists
working in the field have been assaulted, or verbally and physically harassed, preventing them from doing their work. The main perpetrators of these attacks have been the South African Police Services (SAPS); political parties or groups and their supporters; communities where reporting occurs; and criminals.
The attacks restrict the ability of journalists to perform their tasks properly, and therefore have direct consequences for freedom of the media and freedom of expression in South Africa.
The organisations were concerned that the attacks speak to an underlying lack of understanding and acceptance of the importance of a free media and the extent to which they are the result of deliberate attempts by politicians, including cabinet ministers, to undermine the media.
Online attacks
We have also seen an increase in online attacks on journalists. Since the last reporting period, journalists have been subjected to hate speech, death threats, threats of physical harm, and public attacks by politicians and public figures.
Of specific concern has been the targeting of journalists or the media in general by politicians which often leads to further online harassment and intimidation by their political supporters. Threats to female journalists have also been pervasive, with many of these attacks being gendered and include misogynistic attacks, death threats, and threats of rape.
These attacks undermine media freedoms and can have a chilling effect on a journalist’s willingness to perform his or her duties, sometimes leading to self-censorship. Journalists are also unable to find easy recourse to justice.
Surveillance of journalists
We have raised concern that reports of state surveillance of journalists by the Crime Intelligence division of the SAPS persist, with the latest incidents reported as recently as March 2021. This is despite the Constitutional Court declaring the Regulation of Interception of Communications and Provision of Communication-related Information Act 70 of 200219 (or RICA) unconstitutional.
Editorial interference at the public broadcaster
In the previous UPR review, South Africa supported a recommendation to ensure that journalists, especially those working at the public broadcaster, can work without fear of reprisals for expressing critical opinions, including when reporting on issues sensitive to the government.
Not enough was being done to ensure the editorial independence of the SABC. This includes potential for board interference in editorial decision-making, ostensibly to secure preferential coverage for the ruling-party.
Despite several house-cleaning exercises over the past five years, including a revision to the public broadcaster’s editorial code (which is considered a benchmark for editorial independence at the public broadcaster and is supported by the industry and media watchdogs) and reassurances from the broadcaster of its commitment to editorial integrity and independence, allegations continue to surface of undue political influence in editorial decision-making.
“False News”/Mis and Disinformation
In 2020, during the first year of the Covid-19 pandemic, regulations were issued in relation to the Disaster Management Act of 2002. Section 14 (2) of the regulations made it an offence to publish any statement “with the intention to deceive any other person” about Covid-19, or any measure taken by the government to address Covid-19.
We raised concern that attempts to criminalise the spread of “false news” will largely be ineffective, can be misused, and will have a chilling effect on media freedoms. Leaving “false news” unaddressed is also a problem, and can damage public trust in journalists, and result in a loss in media credibility, as was suggested in the 2021 Inquiry into Media Ethics and Credibility initiated by the Sanef.
However, criminalising the spread of information over educating the public and encouraging fact-checking and other mechanisms to increase the public’s access to trustworthy, objective and reliable data is likely to lead to serious infringements of media freedoms, including the misuse of this legislation by partisan authorities, censorship and self-censorship, and, as has been pointed out, could delay access to critical information that is in the public interest.
Other concerns raised in the submission related to:
Cybercrimes Act
Prevention and Combating of Hate Crimes and Hate Speech Bill
Threats to whistleblowers
Review of the Protection of State Information Bill
Amendments to the Films and Publications Act
Children and the media
Read the full UN UPR submission on Freedom of Expression here.
For further information or requests for interviews, please contact:
Amnesty International South Africa Media and Communications Officer, Genevieve Quintal on +27 64 890 9224 or [email protected]
Campaign for Free Expression (CFE) Director, Anton Harber, on [email protected]
Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) Africa Program Coordinator, Angela Quintal, on +1 212-300-9004 or [email protected]
Media Monitoring Africa (MMA) Director, William Bird, on +27 11 788 1278 or [email protected]
South African National Editors’ Forum (Sanef) Executive Director, Reggy Moalusi on +27 10 001 8971 or [email protected]
The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) congratulates Moshoeshoe Monare on his appointment as Group Executive: News, at the SABC.
SANEF has confidence in the leadership capabilities of Moshoeshoe, who has held several positions in various news organisations. Moshoeshoe, a former SANEF deputy chairperson, brings a wealth of experience into this new role, and we are confident he will lead the news team ethically and professionally, ever mindful of the public broadcaster’s mandate to serve all its audiences.
As we note Moshoeshoe’s appointment, we are also mindful that his predecessor, Phathiswa Magopeni, still has an impending labour matter with the SABC that is not concluded.
We call on Moshoeshoe, as he assumes his new role on 1 June, to work towards insulating the SABC newsroom from management and political interference, particularly as the governing party has an elective conference later this year.
SANEF assures Moshoeshoe of its support when it comes to defending editorial independence, from all sectors of society.
Note to Editors: The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) is a non-profit organisation whose members are editors, senior journalists, and journalism trainers from all areas of the South African media. We are committed to championing South Africa’s hard-won freedom of expression and promoting quality, ethics, and diversity in the South African media. We promote excellence in journalism through fighting for media freedom, writing policy submissions, research and education and training programmes. SANEF is not a union.
The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) strongly condemns former SAA board chairperson Ms Dudu Myeni for her alleged assault on TimesLIVE and Sunday Times photographer, Sandile Ndlovu, at the Pietermaritzburg high court on April 11, where the corruption trial of former president Jacob Zuma was scheduled to begin.
Ndlovu was approached aggressively by Myeni, who allegedly tried to knock down his camera while he was legitimately taking photographs of her and other public figures inside the court.
SANEF is surprised that Myeni seems unaware of the media’s role in society and the principle of an open justice system enshrined in our Constitution. The media is duty-bound to report on events in court buildings, photograph individuals and their supporters outside court, and cover proceedings inside the courtroom with the permission of the court’s presiding officer.
Myeni and other political figures were in the Pietermaritzburg court building – a public place — where Zuma’s corruption trial hearing was to take place.
SANEF has learnt that Ndlovu spotted Myeni, a close confidante of Zuma, in conversation with former president’s supporters, Carl Niehaus, and photographed them together. Despite being in a public place, inside the high court building near the entrance, Myeni took exception.
According to Ndlovu, when Myeni, Niehaus, and Zuma’s daughter Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, emerged from the waiting room inside the court building, he moved towards them to obtain a photograph.
“They were steps away from me when I took the photographs, but before I could even think, Myeni grabbed my camera and pulled my bag. She said: “Why are you doing this? Why are you doing this?’ She tried to hit me, but she missed,” Ndlovu said.
SANEF reminds Myeni that it is illegal to intimidate journalists and that she should expect the presence of the media in every court case — including her own — where she is an accused in a criminal matter at the high court in Johannesburg.
We further remind Myeni that attempting to prevent journalists from reporting court proceedings infringes on the right of freedom of expression, enshrined in Section 16 of our Constitution. She should also realise that every citizen should observe the protection of a free press, freedom of speech and the free flow of information as these are cornerstones of our Constitution.
SANEF support the TimesLIVE, and Sunday Times’ call on justice minister Ronald Lamola, and chief justice, Raymond Zondo, to ensure that courts are places where journalists can work unimpeded to inform readers, viewers and listeners about the court hearing and the events surrounding them.
Note to Editors:
The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) is a non-profit organisation whose members are editors, senior journalists, and journalism trainers from all areas of the South African media. We are committed to championing South Africa’s hard-won freedom of expression and promoting quality, ethics, and diversity in the South African media. We promote excellence in journalism through fighting for media freedom, writing policy submissions, research and education and training programmes. SANEF is not a union.
The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) is concerned about the suppressing of a range of news channels reporting on the crisis in Ukraine. This is ranging from silencing independent news channels within Russia to channels such as RT (formerly Russia Today or Rossiya Segodnya) removed on the MultiChoice platform in South Africa.
The RT feed was blocked by MultiChoice’s provider in Europe as a result of wide-ranging sanctions introduced by the EU against Russia in the aftermath of that country’s invasion of Ukraine. This was followed by the blocking of RT from numerous news feeds and tech platforms globally.
We also strongly condemn the bombing of a Ukrainian TV tower in Kyiv that prevents citizens from accessing one of their news sources. Russian strikes on Kyiv TV tower brought down the main TV tower in the nation’s capital killing five people on Tuesday and knocking out some state broadcasting. This violates the rights of media workers in this conflict.
While we support freedom of access to a diversity of views, we do not support disinformation on any channels; and appeal to all to report factually, impartially, and truthfully for the benefit of all their audiences.
We also note that disinformation is a global problem with deception techniques becoming more complex and sophisticated, causing confusion, and having the effect of undermining human rights and democracy. That is why all news organisations have the responsibility to actively counter any built-in biases and seek to be impartial in all their reports.
RT is a Russian state-controlled international television network funded by the tax budget of the Russian government; and as such widely perceived as a state propaganda tool. It is nevertheless a source of information from Russia, that viewers could access along with all other channels, to critically assess its credibility and information for themselves.
SANEF is not blind to the fact that in Russia, the authorities have imposed censorship on information about the “special operation” now underway. According to Reporters without Borders (RSF), Roskomnadzor, the Russian media regulator, has told the media in that country that they must “only use the information and data they receive from official Russian sources” or else they could be prosecuted for spreading false information.
We also note the RSF’s call on belligerents and international organisations to guarantee the safety of the Ukrainian journalists, including more than 1 000 foreign correspondents reporting on the ground in Ukraine, according to figures provided by the Ukrainian military, which issues accreditations.
Both Resolution 2222, adopted in 2015 by the UN Security Council (of which Russia is a permanent member), and international humanitarian law require that journalists are protected during armed conflicts in the same as any civilian, even when accompanying military forces for their reporting purpose.
SANEF calls on all platforms, including those on social media, to be vigilant in ensuring impartiality and in countering disinformation.
Note to Editors: The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) is a non-profit organisation whose members are editors, senior journalists and journalism trainers from all areas of the South African media. We are committed to championing South Africa’s hard-won freedom of expression and promoting quality, ethics and diversity in the South African media. We promote excellence in journalism through fighting for media freedom, writing policy submissions, research and education and training programmes. SANEF is not a union.
The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) held its first Council meeting for 2022 on 12 February 2022 in Cape Town and deliberated on various issues plaguing the media industry and the country.
SANEF held robust discussions with the Auditor-General, Tsakani Maluleke, engaging her on the critical work of accountability in public funding and resources spent, and Water and Sanitation Minister, Senzo Mchunu, as government commits to prioritise water security, investment in water resources and maintenance.
Maluleke acknowledged the role of the media in ensuring the public is informed on the work of her office, including service delivery failures and corruption, often providing early warnings about critical areas that can inform their work.
“The media has also been a critical partner in highlighting our audit findings and ensuring they do not go unnoticed. As a case in point, I was particularly pleased by the extent to which the media used our reports, as reference point, during the 2021 local government elections. I want to assure you of our unreserved appreciation for that and for doing your work diligently and without fear or favour,” Maluleke said.
Minister Mchunu decried the numerous plans by successive ministers in his portfolio, highlighting that eradication of pit latrines, reconfiguration of water boards, and resolving the Vaal River sewage spillage will be prioritised during his tenure.
“We need a plan for water reticulation and sanitation that can be implemented by the department irrespective of a minister in the office. The department of Water and Sanitation wants to deal with the problem of the bucket system once and for all. However, it must start with pre-planning for settlements because often settlements are created and then the department starts following behind with water supply and sanitation requirements.
MEDIA ISSUES:
Access to the courts
SANEF is aggrieved by the deteriorating access for journalists to the country’s Magistrates and High Courts.
Despite access to the courts being secured in the Bill of Rights, which forms part of the Constitution, we have seen magistrates and judges arbitrarily barring journalists from covering public proceedings or imposing rules of access that are both unfair and irrational.
In the latest incident, Western Cape Judge President John Hlophe imposed an application process for journalists to attend the bail hearing review application of Zandile Christmas Mafe, the man accused of burning Parliament, after he was referred by the state to the Valkenberg Psychiatric Hospital.
SANEF wrote to the Judge President in January and is yet to receive a response.
In 2020, SANEF celebrated the Magistrates’ Commission having set national guidelines regarding media access to court proceedings, following months of campaigning.
However, magistrates across the country have ignored their own guidelines. SANEF has tirelessly tried to engage the commission with no success.
SANEF council resolved to write to the Acting Chief Justice Raymond Zondo to plead with him to intervene in this clear violation of the Constitution.
“We have received numerous reports from journalists in various provinces, complaining that they have had to apply for permission to cover court proceedings, sometimes arguing their cases in the magistrates chamber,” SANEF deputy chair Adriaan Basson said.
Nat Nakasa grave
SANEF reiterated its disappointment that the eThekwini municipality is yet to fulfil its promise to restore the tombstone of journalist and anti-apartheid icon, Nat Nakasa.
The tombstones of Nakasa and late former Orlando Pirates and Bafana Bafana goalkeeper, Senzo Meyiwa, lie desecrated at the Heroes Acre in Chesterville, Durban.
Media sustainability
SANEF council deliberated on journalism sustainability, including fair competition in the digital economy between news media and tech platforms and we are considering engaging the Competition Commission in this regard.
SANEF is also looking at projects that will support the sustainable future of community media as the coalface of information to society.
SABC matters
SANEF, in partnership with Campaign for Free Expression, will continue to push for the SABC grievance hearing against CEO, Madoda Mxakwe, and Board Chair, Bongumusa Makhathini, to be opened to the public. Now fired SABC chief executive Phathiswa Magopeni accused them of editorial interference.
We are also concerned by the growing trend of law-enforcement agencies making no progress in investigations of callous criminal acts of those threatening the lives of journalists, especially during elections. We again call on police to bring to court those threatening Lesedi FM journalists who have been threatened with rape, beatings and death and left threatening graffiti on the walls of the SABC offices in Mangaung, Free State.
The coalition of Southern African journalism organisations in Gaborone this week, led by the Botswana Editors’ Forum (BEF), to investigate the country’s controversial new Criminal Procedure and Evidence Bill has welcomed the Botswana government’s amendments to the Bill.
The government released amendments which reinstated judicial oversight over surveillance, interceptions and seizures. It also criminalized the abuse of these powers and introduced a new committee, headed by a judge and with extensive powers, that will oversee undercover investigations.
The coalition of organisations representing journalists across the SADC region gathered in Gaborone at the invitation of BEF. It came in response to the government’s plan to push through parliament a law that would have threatened the work of journalists and the country’s media freedom and free expression.
The coalition was led by the BEF and included the Press Council of Botswana, MISA Botswana, the Southern African Editors’ Forum (Saef), the Media Institute of Southern Africa, the Campaign for Free Expression (CFE) and the WAN-Ifra Media Freedom Committee. This group asked to meet the President and other government officials to discuss their objections to the Bill.
It was a strong show of solidarity that highlighted the concern with a draft law that African Editors Forum chair Jovial Rantao called “draconian”.
The government’s latest amendments to the Bill removed clauses that would allow authorities to surveil citizens and conduct undercover operations without a warrant for up to 14 days. It went further and criminalized the abuse of these powers, with penalties up to life imprisonment. The new Controlled Investigations Coordination Committee will coordinate such investigations and also “protect the interests of interception subjects and targets”. The committee will be headed by a judge and has strong powers to “impose administrative sanctions, award compensation, issue and follow up enforcement procedures”. Its decisions will have “the same effects as a judgement of the court”.
“In our view, this is not a perfect Bill, but we are prepared to live with it as part of a trade-off that citizens make in a democratic society to help the state fight modern-day crimes like financial terrorism and money-laundering,” said Spencer Mogapi of BEF.
“I want to thank media colleagues from the region and abroad who came to show solidarity with us in Botswana at a time when we felt that the future was all dark,” he said.
“We appreciate that the government heard the concerns and quickly made changes to improve the Bill. It is a very positive sign when governments respond in this way.
“From a Bill that threatened media freedom, Botswana now has one that regulates covert investigations. It is not perfect, but – if implemented properly – can have positive effects, said Anton Harber, of (CFE).
Joseph Ailonga of SAEF said: “We welcome these amendments and would want to encourage our colleagues in Botswana to now focus on the implementation of this bill once passed.”
Tabani Moyo, MISA regional director, said: “We welcome the government’s decision to water down the bill, although needs to be done to balance citizens’ right to privacy and national security. We will continue to engage with the government and citizens to ensure that rights are protected.”
Contacts:
Anton Harber, Campaign for Free Expression +27-83-3039497 [email protected]
Spencer Mogapi, Botswana Editors’ Forum +267 72110101
Joseph Ailonga, Southern African Editors’ Forum +264 85-2717853
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