ACCESS TO INFORMATION -Suspended foreign affairs official Robert McBride has asked to speak to Safety and Security Minister Sydney Mufamadi and Deputy Intelligence Minister Joe Nhlanhla about his arrest in Mozambique. According to ANC legal advisor Mathews Phosa, McBride wants to set the record straight. Phosa said they are still negotiating a date for the meeting with the two ministers. He also said McBride wanted to discuss his job situation with the government. Meanwhile, the National Party has called on the National Director of Prosecutions, Bulelani Ngcuka to question McBride on his knowledge of arms smuggling and cash heists. NP said that there should also be no secret meeting between McBride, members of the cabinet and the ANC, as this would suggest a "conspiracy of silence".

BROADCASTING - The SABC has raised objections to a number of clauses in the Broadcasting Bill that it says will bring it too close to the Government. The issues were raised in a video presentation to Parliament's portfolio committee on communications during public hearings on the bill. The corporation wants its own board and not the communications minister to represent the interest of public "shareholders" when the SABC is registered as a company. It also does not want to submit financial statements to the minister as proposed by the bill as this may create a perception of state interference and compromise the independence of the SABC. The corporation also argues that Parliament and not the IBA should monitor the SABC adherence to the SABC charter proposed in the bill. It also wants to keep any dividends it makes for its own development, rather than putting these into the state Revenue. Communications Department adviser Pieter de Klerk responded that the Government was "not trying to take power away from the SABC" by making the minister represent shareholders' interests. He also said that he did not foresee any problems with the SABC retaining part of any surplus funds for certain developmental needs.

BROADCASTING - The SABC on September 15 defended its decision to boost and widen the signal which it transmits for Bop TV, saying that it was the only option to keep the troubled station afloat. This follows Midi TV's criticism at the parliamentary portfolio committee on September 14, that the widening of the Bop TV signal to Gauteng viewers was unfair competition. Midi TV said it would take away about R300 million in advertising revenue from commercial stations. "The Star" reported that Midi TV stood to lose about R150 million in ad-spend if the signal boosting proceeded. According to Midi TV, the deal effectively meant the SABC was trying to convert Bop TV into a regional free-to-air station. SABC spokesperson Enoch Sithole said that the move was the only viable option to keep Bop TV afloat as it had lost R100 million at one point. Sithole said the station makes huge losses and if they are refused permission to do that, the future for Bop TV will be doomed and it will remain a drain on the country. IBA had confirmed that Midi TV had lodged a complaint to prevent the SABC amending its licence conditions and upgrading transmitters.

DEFAMATION - ANC chairperson of the Schweizer-Reneke region in the North West Andrew Hank, has rejected allegations of irregularities in the election of the provincial Premier, Popo Molefe, as the party's regional chairperson. Molefe submitted papers to his lawyers for legal advice after a letter described by an aide as "defamatory" claimed that he had secured support for his re-election as provincial leader. The document contained allegations that he had bought votes from delegates to the provincial congress in August. According to "The Citizen", ANC Women's League provincial secretary Yvonne Makume, denied authorship of the document. Makume said that the document sent to the NEC had come from the Klerksdorp and Mafikeng branches of the ANCWL and had been leaked to a daily newspaper. Meanwhile, the task team of the ANCWL in Klerksdorp has expressed support for the document. The ANC's department of Information and Publicity has dismissed the allegations of irregularities in the election of Molefe as "completely untrue".

BROADCASTING AUTHORITY -The Communication Workers Union has claimed that the IBA was trying to undermine and disrupt the CWU and was planning to retrench workers without proper consultation. The CWU said that it represented organised workers at the IBA and accused management of not negotiating with staff in good faith during its restructuring process. The union said management failed to disclose to workers that the IBA had been informed by the Department of Communications in February of a budget reduction to R31,5 million. The union was informed only in July, giving it less than a month to offer alternative solutions to the problem, CWU said. The IBA in the interim went ahead in June and approved salary increases of seven percent despite being aware of its budget constraints. "The union sees this as an example of the IBA management's lack of proper financial planning and budget focus." The IBA spokesperson Pekwane Mashilwane said "It is not true that they were not consulted." He said the were "piles and piles" of documents showing management had informed the CWU of the new developments timeously. Mashilwane said the union was complaining because it had not responded to the developments on time.

PRESS FREEDOM - "Sowetan" has organised a press freedom day seminar on October 19 to provide a platform for journalists, media practitioners, government officials and political parties to share their views on contemporary media matters. This year's one day seminar will be opened with an address by Dr Essop Pahad, deputy minister in Deputy President Thabo Mbeki's office. Pahad's input will be of particular significance since Mbeki's office is charged with the task of formulating legislation regarding the country's first freedom of information act. An international guest speaker Rajashri Dasgupta, editor of "The Telegragh" in Culcutta, India, will lead discussions on gender equality. Government Communication and Information Service CEO Joel Netshitenzhe will deliver the keynote address. He will speak on legislation to regulate media ownership.

PRESS FREEDOM - Student journalist Max Hamata, who wrote an article published in the Mail & Guardian (September 18-24) titled `Sex for sale on campus', has received threatening phone calls from anonymous callers. Hamata's article on prostitution at Peninsula Technikon, alleges that sex services are available from certain female students for both in and off-campus men. One of the female students told Hamata that she has been in the sex trade for two years and her two best friends were also involved in the trade. The article says that sex workers at Pentech invite potential clients by placing advertisements at strategic points on campus, like ATMs at the student centre, the male residence and cafeteria. "Customers will be treated confidentially and will receive preferential treatment," reads one ad. In reaction to his article, Hamata was called into the office of the deputy vice-chancellor Ms VL Tanga where he was questioned and accused of being disloyal to the institution. Tanga interrogated him in the company of six other management staff members. Hamata was also questioned by Campus Security who attempted to force him to reveal the names of his sources. Hamata refused saying that this would be a breach of confidentiality. Although Hamata's article did not suggest that "all" female students on campus were involved in prostitution, a circular issued by the vice-chancellor implies that this is what he alleged in his article. Consequently those students, particularly women students, who have not read the article but have read the circular are targeting Hamata.

Furthermore, those sources who Hamata did name are being forced to retract their statements. They claim that their technikon careers will be over if they do not. Hamata says the vice-chancellor has deviated from a real problem of sex trade in the campus to a non-issue of smearing him against women students. He says he no longer feels safe on campus. FXI has consistently highlighted the need for recognition of protection of journalists' sources. FXI believes that Hamata is being harassed unnecessarily for writing an article he believed was in the public interest.

TELECOMMUNICATIONS - Telkom and signal distributor Sentech on October 15 appealed for continued government protection of their respective turfs. The two made submissions to the national assembly's communications portfolio committee on the Broadcasting Amendment Bill. The bill provides for the regulatory authority to determine and propose to the minister the terms, licence conditions, obligations and a tariff structure to govern the signal distribution sector after it has been opened up to competition by 2000. Telkom regulatory affairs executive Gabriele Celli said that the distinction between telecommunications and broadcasting should be retained as the area still required "much study and investigation". Celli called for a clear delineation between broadcasting and signal distribution licences, saying that serious disputes might arise with regard to legislation intention if this was not done. Sentech, in support of the government, argued that the convergence of broadcasting and information technology activities after the establishment of digital technology would provide new opportunities for communications. Sentech, however, disagreed with the government with regard to its own sphere of operation. The government had previously hinted the possibility of it privatising Sentech and bringing in a strategic equity partner.