BROADCASTING AUTHORITY - "Business Day" reports that the Public Protector Selby Baqwa has recommended that the Heath special investigating unit probe the alleged abuse of funds by former councillors of the Independent Broadcasting Authority. He said if necessary, the unit should use its special powers to recover any improper or unlawful expenditure. Baqwa criticised the government for failing to address chaos in financial administrations. He recommended that Parliament develop appropriate measures to ensure the proper training of officials to minimise the risk of abuse of financial systems and to improve the efficiency of financial administration in general. Baqwa had been asked by the Parliament's public accounts committee to investigate the IBA, with regard to possible criminal prosecution relating to abuse of public funds. The request was made following the highlighted shortcomings in the IBA's financial management by the auditor general in a special report in May 1997. His recommendations are contained in a special report on the affairs of the IBA and would be tabled in Parliament.

ELECTIONS - President Nelson Mandela has rejected media reports that he had sought an out-of-court settlement with opposition parties over their challenge to the government's decision to only allow people with bar coded identity documents to register and vote in the coming elections. According to "Mail & Guardian", political sources said that Mandela had made a secret offer of talks to the New National Party and the Democratic Party, aimed at seeking a political compromise over election arrangements. The paper claimed the offer implied that the government was willing to review its stance on the issue, but that Mandela later withdrew his offer. Mandela denied the report and said the matter is under government discussion. He said the only issue discussed with the NNP and the DP was the meeting between the attorneys of the opposition parties and those of the government. Mandela said the purpose of the meeting was to bring the court case forward and resolve it as soon as possible so that it does not interfere with the elections.

PRESS FREEDOM - Western Cape Deputy Attorney-General Willie Viljoen on February 3, launched an attack on the media saying that the media's stubborn refusal to make available to the authorities crucial material concerning the Staggie death, amounted to the usurp action of the role of the law courts. Viljoen was representing the state in the Cape Town Magistrate's Court at the inquest into the death by a mob of gang leader and druglord Rashaad Staggie. He accused the media of claiming to publish information under the pretext that the public must be kept informed, but in reality it was rousing them to lawlessness, which had "dumped us into an endless spiral of violence and retribution". He added: "Are the media cowards, unable to accept any form of responsibility, and unable to live up to the Constitutional principles of transparency, or are they instead basking in sensation as instruments of a Third Force that fuels conflict?". Kobus Louw, appearing on behalf of the Staggie family said that the court had a right to the photographic and video material in the possession of the media. He said the press is part of society and has a duty to testify in court.

However, the legal representative of 17 journalists subpoenaed, Gilbert Marcus, addressed the court basing his argument on the principle of freedom of the press. Marcus said Viljoen and Louw had chosen to launch an emotional attack on the media. He said Viljoen had misconceived his role as prosecutor in an inquest court assisting in bringing out the truth, of which he was to be neutral and impartial. Magistrate Johan Venter on February 5 ruled that the media were forced to comply with the subpoenas and should the media fail to do so, they could face heavy penalties, in terms of the Criminal Procedure Act. The Freedom of Expression Institute was disappointed to hear the decision and will continue to monitor the progress in the inquest including the taking of the decision to the High Court for review.

PROTESTS - "Business Day" reports that the publishers of the Western Cape daily "Die Burger" on January 28 locked out more than 500 union members from their Cape Town plants following a wage dispute. National Magazine Printers and Nasionale Pers said they had exercised their lock-out privilege after the Paper, Pulp, Wood and Allied Worker's Union embarked on a go-slow on January 27. However, the union said the go-slow was called after the companies called armed security personnel to their premises to intimidate union member. The union served the companies with a 48-hour strike notice on January 26, following a breakdown in wage talks. The Union is demanding a 10% or R63 increase, for members employed by the National Magazine Printers and a 10,7% or R53 increase for workers at the "Die Burger". The companies are offering 8%. Naspers GM Freddie Steyn said the company was prepared to resolve the dispute and had signed agreements with the SA Typographical and the Communication Workers Unions, which had accepted Naspers's offer.

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