ACCESS TO INFORMATION - The Truth Commission announced on June 26 that people who were responsible for the atrocities in African National Congress detention camps will not testify publicly about their deeds. According to the Commission, enough material had been gathered on Quatro for the commission's final report. The Commission also said that there was more than enough information on the ANC, more than what they had on the South African Defence Force. However, the National Party was unhappy with the decision that the ANC camps and killings in those camps would not be the subject of the hearing. The party indicated that the ANC submissions and the information published from the newspapers were not enough because nobody knew who gave orders for the killings of the victims, where they were buried and what happened to other victims. The party also said that the statement had proved once again that the TRC was an extension of the ANC/ alliance propaganda because all the commissioners with one exception, were deeply committed ANC supporters or struggle activists.

Meanwhile, a recent submission to the TRC claimed that death row prisoners in Pretoria Central Prison were subjected to chemical experiments at the hands of scientists and doctors. According to reports, Iris Baltsoucos, long time anti-death penalty lobbyist and Christian worker, told the commission that she believed at least two men were victims of a sinister operation run from inside prison which used doomed men as guinea pigs for the experiments. The TRC said that the contents of the statement were horrific and it was the first time the commission had received a statement dealing with such an issue.

BROADCASTING - The SABC has hired a high technology tracing company to ensure that no one watch television without paying. 0n June 29, the SABC indicated that the process of tracing down millions of unknown pirate viewers as it took place in the past, was no longer financially viable. The tracking company, which was one of the four short listed for the tender, would target 1,3 million people who own television sets but had never had licences. The SABC also pointed out that the company had the necessary technology and infrastructure to reach everyone and no pirate viewers would escape the net anymore. On July 2, "Business Day" reported that the corporation has planned to investigate the use of its signals in neighbouring countries to herald a clampdown on what the corporation believed was piracy of its broadcasts.

BROADCASTING - The SABC decided on July 1 not to confirm the appointment of Govin Reddy to the position of chief executive of broadcasting strategy. Reports said that Reddy was left out in the cold by the SABC following his failure to clarify certain issues relating to his public pronouncements after he failed to clinch the group chief executive post. The SABC board announced that it had been presented with Reddy's contract as the new broadcasting strategy chief executive and the board decided not to ratify his appointment, despite his apology. Last week Reddy accepted his redeployment to the position and also expressed regret for any harm caused by earlier statements to the media when he was not appointed as the SABC's group chief executive. The corporation said that it would consult its legal and human resource department to decide on Reddy's future.

DEFAMATION - "The Citizen" on June 27 reported that the former SA Rugby Football Union president Louis Luyt would be taking legal actions against the SABC. Luyt complained to the Broadcasting Complaints Commission of South Africa after allegations were aired in the programme "On the edge". According to Luyt, the allegations implied nepotism and dishonesty in the running of Ellis Park Stadium and Transvaal Rugby Sports Trust and he regarded the allegations as libellous and malicious. The report said that the SABC had invited Luyt to appear in the programme but he declined. The corporation would defend its case in court.

GOVERNMENT & MEDIA - On June 25 , the Government Communication and Information System head Joel Netshitenzhe called for the regulation of the South African media industry during the Freedom of Expression Institute's annual general meeting. Netshitenzhe said that transformation in SA could not be realised if 82% of newspapers registered by the country's audit bureau of circulation remained in the hands of monopolies. He said that this was worsened by the fact that these monopolies also controlled distribution channels. Netshitenzhe indicated that although freedom of expression was the basis for other freedoms, in SA it remained a "dual edge sword", as some newspapers had recently published articles which had been fabricated and quoted anonymous faceless sources. He also said that the approval given by the cabinet to the Open Democracy Bill on June 24 illustrated "government's attitude towards sunshine being better than secrecy". He pointed out that SA media needed to do more to prevent misinformation campaigns as elections drew nearer, and questioned self-censorship used by newspapers by refusing to publish facts which went against editorial policies.

JOURNALISTS - A "Cape Argus" journalist Thabo Mabaso, on June 27 was allegedly beaten by 10 policemen at the Gugulethu police station after reporting a traffic accident. He was detained overnight, released the following day. Mabaso was taken to hospital for treatment and discharged on June 29, but has lost sight in his left eye. "Cape Argus" editor Moegsien Williams said that he was shocked and appalled by the alleged assault. The Cape Town police have launched an internal investigation into the matter. Danief Daniels, the police area commissioner for the west metropolitan area said that they were waiting for the complainant's statement and he would like to see the officers' immediate suspension. However, the Safety and Security Minister Sydney Mufamadi had apologised on behalf of his department to the "Cape Argus" editor Moegsien Williams for brutal attack by police on reporter Thabo Mabaso. Through a telephonic conversation, Mufamadi told Williams that he was `deeply saddened' by what had happened. Mabaso's attorney said that the statement was being prepared by Mabaso who was still in shock. Meanwhile, the National Assembly's safety and security committee on July 1 called for a thorough investigation of the Gugulethu police station to determine whether the station was capable of providing the necessary service to the community. The ANC Western Cape leader Ebrahim Rasool also called for the immediate suspension of the policemen on duty at the time of the alleged assault. Rasool said that those responsible did not deserve to be members of the SA Police Service and had shown no respect for the constitution and the country's laws

The Forum of Community Newspapers which has a representative in every province, expressed its concern at the attacks and harassment against journalists. The latest of the attacks were the assassination attempts on Francois Aucamp, managing editor of Morester Printers and Peter Mabuye, the Vaal Vision editor. Aucamp's attack was believed to be connected to a series of disclosures by him, whereas Mabuye's attack came after he wrote a series of articles about licence corruption. The forum would monitor attacks on journalists thoroughly and would decide on what further steps to take.

PROTESTS - On July 1, Cosatu indicated that it would embark on a series of mass actions and campaigns from July until October against the Reserve Bank, the commercial banks, demutualisation, privatisation of local government services and the Eskom Bill. It would be in support of job creation and preservation and the forthcoming general elections. It said that the campaign on business would be marches on Old Mutual and Sanlam to oppose the unulateral demutualisation process they had embarked on and their use of worker's money to fund it. In the action to oppose the Eskom Bill, Cosatu said that it would oppose proposals for the corporatisation and taxation, and to defend the public provision of affordable electricity to all. There would also be mass action against pharmaceutucal companies which opposed measures to make medicines more affordable. Cosatu indicated that preparations for regional congeresses to co-ordinate the planned mass action campaigns had already started.

PUBLIC BROADCASTING - The SABC had applied to the IBA to ammend its licences so that television services could be expanded. The SABC spokesman Marj Murray said that the authority had asked for written representations and once the application had been approved by the IBA, a range of benefits would open up. The whole of South Africa would be able to watch the same thing on the same channel. Murray indicated that the IBA's request heralded the start of public hearings and consultation which could last up to a year or longer. According to the IBA the proposed expansion would be done in two phases. The first phase involved the elimination of the SABC2/3 transmitter switch in the the Eastern Cape and Kwa-Zulu Natal. The second phase would see the expansion of the transmitter network of the SABC1 and SABC3. The completion of the phases would result in 85% of the population receiving television signals.