Media News South Africa

FBJ emergence indicates problems in media – HRC

NEWSWATCH: According to SAHRC CEO Tseliso Thipanyane yesterday, Tuesday, 4 March 2008, the “emergence of the Forum of Black Journalists (FBJ) indicates there are problems in the media”, reports IOL. The SAHRC is holding a public hearing today, Wednesday 5 March, into the recent FBJ incident at its Parktown offices in Johannesburg.

SANEF is up in arms over the closure to the public of a workshop to discuss the proposed Films and Publications Amendment Bill that contains clauses directly impacting on press freedom, writes Sowetan.

The Freedom of Expression Institute is also supposed to be considering legal action to challenge President Thabo Mbeki's appointment of the new SABC board, according to Business Day, following COSATU's confirmation last week that it would go ahead with its legal challenge against Mbeki.

TV star and Sowetan pub owner Shimmy Mofokeng was shot dead in a botched hijacking at his neighbours on Monday night, 3 March 2008, reports IOL and the Mail & Guardian Online.

Currently in court are former Lesedi FM presenter Thuso Motaung and his wife Mmamontha, who are up on corruption charges along with business partner Joshua Ramme. According to the Sowetan, the state has failed to produce witnesses, nor has there been a criminal investigation by the police – the charges have been laid by an SABC internal investigation.

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About Simone Puterman

Simone Puterman (@SimoneAtLarge) is currently editor-at-large at Marklives.com and deputy chair of the Sanef online editors subcommittee. After majoring in psychology and linguistics at Rhodes University, and then completing her honours in psychology, she has been in the world of B2B publishing since 1997, with 7.5 year stints at both WriteStuff Publishing and Bizcommunity.com (March 2006-August 2013). Email her at moc.sevilkram@enomis.
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