FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION NEWS FROM SOUTH AFRICA: 16-22 May 1997

BROADCASTING - Community broadcasters in South Africa have called for a temporary mechanism to be put in place to ensure that the community broadcasting sector is not compromised in any way as a result of a crisis in the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA). The statutory authority, which regulates broadcasting in South African and sets policy for public broadcasting, was plunged into its worse crisis on May 15 when five of its seven publicly-appointed councillors resigned. The move came shortly after the council voted unanimously to suspend its Chief Executive Officer and followed hot on the heels of a damning report by the Auditor-General into the financial practices of the authority. The report by the A-G detailed large scale financial mismanagement and lack of financial controls. In a joint statement released on May 16, the National Community Media Forum (NCMF), the National Community Radio Forum (NCRF) and the Open Window Network (OWN), representing the interests of more than 80 community broadcasters, expressed concern that some community radio stations, whose temporary licences were due to expire, could be forced off air unless their licences were renewed. The three organisations pointed out too that there was a long list of aspirant community broadcasters awaiting decisions by the IBA on licence applications. To prevent these communities from being adversely affected by the current crisis, the organisations called for a temporary mechanism to be put in place. On May 19, the Minister of Communication, Mr Jay Naidoo, announced that the government had accepted the resignations of the five councillors but that they would work a three-month period of notice to ensure the IBA discharged its duties. A spokesman for the minister added that steps would be taken to "fast-track" the appointment of new councillors in order to minimise disruptions to the IBA’s work schedule. Meanwhile, the Business Day newspaper quoted unnamed government sources as saying that the current crisis in the IBA might lead to an earlier-than-expected merger between the IBA and the South African Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (SATRA). There are concerns that a merger earlier than planned would rob the IBA of its independence since SATRA, which was launched earlier this year, is directly under the control of Minister Naidoo. The ministry had originally envisaged a 18-month period before the two organisations were merged.

TELECOMMUNICATIONS ACCESS - Access to a telephone for all South Africans within the next five years could become a reality if the objectives of the government’s newly-launched Universal Service Agency are realised. The agency was launched on May 16. According to the head of the agency, Mlungisi Hlongwane, one of its most immediate tasks is to provide universal access to all, which means a phone which can be reached within 30 minutes. One of its long-term goals will be to extend universal service to as many South Africans as possible. The agency will also be in charge of the Universal Service Fund, which will support projects that increase universal access or service. Government has already allocated R3 million to the fund for this financial year, while the fund will also hold a percentage of funds allocated from the licences of all telecommunications suppliers.

DEMOCRACY - South African taxpayers will soon be making a concrete contribution towards the preservation of multi-party democracy if parliament approves legislation that provides for the public funding of political parties. In the process South Africans will likely be guaranteed a healthy proliferation of ideas and opinions during election times. Provincial Affairs and Constitutional Development Minister Vallie Moosa announced on May 16 that the Promotion of Multi-Party Democracy Bill, which had been approved by cabinet, would be tabled in Parliament during its current session. The legislation  will be in line with a constitutional clause on the enhancement of multi-party democracy and which requires that funding be allocated on a proportional basis to political parties participating in national and provincial elections. The legislation provides for the establishment of a fund which will receive money through parliament. It will be administered by a permanent electoral commission whose members will be interviewed for selection next month. According to Minister Moosa, small parties in particular will benefit from the funding. He told the Sunday Times newspaper that, "Smaller parties that represent a legitimate point of view and section of the electorate, would have a voice in the political process. They should not disappear from the scene because of lack of funds".

JOURNALISTS - President Nelson Mandela has repeated his attack on critical black journalists in South Africa, similar to an attack he made in November last year. Speaking at a press conference on May 21 at the end of a state visit to Zimbabwe, Mandela said black journalists were only criticising the Government to get promotion in the "conservative, white-minority"-controlled media. Mandela said further that black journalists were being used by white proprietors. "It is for us, sometimes rightly, sometimes justifiably, to say ‘racism’ to criticism by white reporters. In order to overcome that, many proprietors use black journalists," he said. At an ANC-hosted business meeting in November last year, Mandela said there were black journalists who had allowed themselves to be co-opted by the "white-controlled conservative media" to "do their dirty work", and that they were forced to report negatively on successes achieved by the current government to protect their jobs and ensure their promotion opportunities. In reaction the Forum for Black Journalists expressed serious concern, stating: "...at the rate at which the president is going in his adversarial stance against black journalists it will soon not be expected for them to hold or express any opinion." A number of senior black journalists later held a meeting with President Mandela, during which he undertook not to repeat allegations that they were being used by their white bosses to undermine the government.