African journalists launch protest over proposed media restrictions

SOUTH African journalists launched a campaign yesterday to fight what they say is an attempt to curtail media freedoms in a nation known for one of Africa's freest constitutions.

In a declaration published in all main Sunday newspapers, the South African National Editors Forum said media restrictions proposed by the ruling African National Congress threatened free expression that was the "lifeblood" of the country's democracy since the end of apartheid era rule in 1994. Those proposals include a new media law and a special tribunal for journalists.

One major newspaper even began running small notices alongside important stories that tell readers, "you would not be reading this story" if new media laws are passed.

The statement signed by 36 of the country's prominent editors called for restrictions posed by the proposed Protection of Information laws and the tribunal to be abandoned immediately.

It appealed to the ruling party to "abide by the founding principles of our democracy" enshrined in the constitution that ended apartheid rule and its harsh media controls. "Human dignity is indivisible from freedom of speech," the group said.

It said free access to information lay "at the very heart of the struggle for freedom" championed by president Jacob Zuma's governing ANC party. The new laws would allow the government to classify a broad range of material that is currently not secret. Under the new law, it would be illegal to leak or to publish information deemed classified by the government, and the offence would be punishable by imprisonment.

Critics of the legislation say it does not allow for the public interest to be taken into account in exposing corruption or incompetence by top officials.