MEDIA STATEMENT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

9 July 1997

The Freedom of Expression Institute (FXI) has pleasure in announcing the appointment of Mr Mandla Seleoane as chairperson of the organisation. Mr Seleoane was elected  to this position at the first meeting (July 8) of the new executive committee, which was elected at the FXI’s AGM held on June 19. He takes over from Mr Raymond Louw, who was appointed Deputy Chairperson.

Mr Seleoane is a senior researcher at the Centre for Socio-Constitutional Dynamics at the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC).  He is a graduate of the University of South Africa and the Rand Afrikaans University. Mr Seleoane has a long history of involvement in the Black Consciousness movement  and on labour issues. He is the author of the book, "The Death Penalty: Let the People Decide", and was a contributor to the recently released book, "The Rights of Indigenous People", by Bertus de Villiers. He is currently involved in research on socio-economic rights. He can be contacted at (012) 302-2325.

Mr Raymond Louw is editor and publisher of Southern Africa Report, an international newsletter on South Africa. He is an executive member of the South African National Editors Forum (SANEF) and a member of the Conference of Editors. He has served as chairperson of the FXI since the latter half of 1995, and was formerly chairperson of the Campaign for Open Media and the Campaign for Independent Broadcasting. He is a former executive board member of the International Press Institute (IPI) and currently a fellow of the IPI. Mr Louw was appointed by Deputy President Thabo Mbeki as a member of the Task Group on Government Communication (COMTASK), which completed its work last year. He was twice awarded the South African Union of Journalists’ (SAUJ) Pringle Award for Press Freedom. He can be contacted at (011) 646-8790.

The other members of the FXI’s executive are:

Nicholas Combrinck - Publisher and Commissioning Editor at Jonathan Ball Publishers
Clive Emdon - Director of the Independent Media Diversity Trust
Leon Louw - Executive Director of the Free Market Foundation
Nomavenda Mathiane - Political and provincial government correspondent for the Business Day newspaper
Japan Mthembu - General Secretary of the Performing Artists Workers’ Equity
Robert Nkuna - Provincial General Secretary of the Open Window Network and
International  Relations Officer for the National Community Radio Forum
Temba Nolutshungu - Director of the Cape Town office of the Free Market
Foundation
Andries Oliphant - President of the National Arts Coalition and currently a lecturer in
Theory of Literature at the University of South Africa
Rehana Rossouw - Deputy Editor at the Mail & Guardian newspaper
Chris Vick - Group Editorial Training Director for Independent Newspapers.
 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CALL RAASHIED GALANT AT (011) 403-8403