South African journalist Thomo Nkgadima faces criminal trespass charges
The arrest and detention of freelance journalist Thomo Nkgadima was an intimidatory tactic aimed at deterring him from reporting on a matter of public interest.
RSF urges court to overturn gag order on media outlet
A South African High Court judge grants interim interdict effectively blocking investigative media outlet ‘amaBhungane’ from reporting on business conglomerate.
High court dismisses private prosecution of journalist
A South African high court calls former president Jacob Zuma’s private prosecution of prosecutor Billy Downer and writer Karyn Maughan an abuse of process.
South African journalists bear brunt of media violations
Investigative reporter Sithandiwe Velaphi is compelled to go underground, after receiving information that his life is in danger.
South African court gags media outlet from publishing secret document
South African High Court orders journalist Thabo Makwakwa to return secret documents to South Africa’s State Security Agency.
AI needs to be regulated to protect peoples’ rights
Alt Advisory cautions that the use of artificial intelligence to build a profile of people based on their personal information is “a central feature of surveillance capitalism, and yet mostly shrouded in secrecy.”
Report on the state of digital migration in SADC region launched
MISA report looks at the respective broadcasting digital migration processes of countries in Southern Africa.
Mozambican journalist Ibraimo Mbaruco still missing
The Mozambican government’s pedestrian approach to the disappearance of Ibraimo Mbaruco perpetuates a culture of impunity that poses great risk to journalists.
Media targeted during South Africa’s deadly protests
During demonstrations sparked by the arrest of former President Jacob Zuma, at least 4 community radio stations were negatively impacted while journalists were robbed or harassed.
South Africa’s Parliament rejects plan to introduce e-voting
The Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs rejects two proposals which could have seen the introduction of electronic voting in the country.
South Africa’s spy law declared unlawful
South Africa’s surveillance legislation used to intercept journalists’ communications is declared unconstitutional by the Constitutional Court.
COVID-19 accelerates media sustainability crisis in Southern Africa
Diverse, free and independent media is under severe threat as the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted the financial viability of media outlets in the region.
South African journalist goes into hiding in neighbouring Lesotho
South African journalist Paul Nthoba was forced to seek refuge in neighbouring Lesotho following intimidating behaviour by police in Ficksburg.
South Africa’s new regulations on sharing misinformation on COVID-19 sets dangerous precedent
South Africa’s newly enacted regulations criminalising the sharing of false or inaccurate information related to COVID-19 have severe penalties, but also have the potential of repressing freedom of expression.