3 October 2017 THREATENED SABC correspondent in Lesotho, Nthakoana Ngatane, had to flee the country following numerous threats on her life. This was the latest in a series of incidents of violence and intimidation against journalists in the landlocked country. Due to the deteriorating security situation in Lesotho, the safety of journalists in the country is under threat and therefore imperils press freedom. Sanef offered its support to Ngatane and issued a protest to the Lesotho government. 18 October 2017 NOTEWORTHY DEVELOPMENT COMMEMORATION Sanef commemorated the 40th anniversary of Black Wednesday the day, October 19, in 1977 when the apartheid government in an attempt to gag the media, banned scores of newspapers aligned with the black consciousness movement, along with 19 pro-democracy organisations, and arrested a number of prominent journalists. Black Wednesday triggered years of resistance to the government on the issue of media freedom and stoked Sanef’s fight for media freedom in South Africa and across the continent. Sanef commemorated Black Wednesday by launching its new identity and a Media Freedom Campaign. 14 November 2017 CENSORED Journalists in KwaZulu Natal expressed concern about plans by the eThekwini (formerly Durban) Municipal Council to introduce new Rules of Order which would deny access by reporters to some meetings; and/or restrict the use of electronic equipment in filing stories. Sanef called on the council to drop the plan because the contemplated restrictions would be an unconstitutional infringement of media freedom, thus illegal, and would restrict the public’s right to know about developments that affect their lives. The issue has been deferred to the next council meeting.