The attempted criminalisation of News24 legal journalist Karyn Maughan this week is the first-time case in South Africa’s democratic age. Ironically, nine days later, the country remembers Black Wednesday.
Appearing in the Pietermaritzburg High Court on Monday, 10 October Maughan is being trialled for requesting information already in the public domain about former president Jacob Zuma’s health.
19 October marks what is known as Black Wednesday in the country’s history. This is when the Apartheid government, in 1977, banned The World, Weekend World and The Voice newspapers, arrested editor Percy Qoboza, and outlawed several Black Consciousness organisations.
Free media integral to democracy
Commenting on Black Wednesday and the South African media in an open letter to the country, President Ramaphosa states: “We are fortunate to have come a long way since Black Wednesday.”
In a statement on the government site, the Minister in the Presidency, Mondli Gungubele says: “A free media is an integral part of our democracy and government is committed to press freedom.
He adds that government recognises the media as partners in strengthening the country’s democracy and promoting its rights, which many have fought and died for during the years of struggle.
“We embrace any platform that allows us to strengthen relationships with the media, while also allowing us to speak…