South Africa the basic tenets of media freedom, and that it may also “reverse burden of proof requirements, which would force journalists to prove their innocence”. It also includes “regulations that would criminalise certain use of social media”. WAN-IFRA also drew attention to other prospective legislation that may be used to further erode press freedom in South Africa, notably, the draft Prevention and Combating of Hate Crimes and Hate Speech Bill, which would criminalise “bringing contempt and ridicule” to figures of authority; and the Film and Publications Board Amendment Bill, which broadens state power to censor content. The Board welcomed the commitment by the governing African National Congress, to decriminalise defamation, and urged it to fast-track legislation to effect this as a matter of urgency. WAN-IFRA pointed out that this would be in line with the 2010 resolution by the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which states: “Criminal defamation laws constitute a serious interference with freedom of expression and impede the role of the media as a watchdog, preventing journalists and media practitioners [from] practising their profession without fear and in good faith.” Journalists expressed concern that the ANC may not implement its promise because some ANC leaders had second thoughts about the outcome of the repeal of the law. JOURNALIST SAFETY Suna Venter, a current affairs journalist and producer for the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), who together with seven of her broadcasting colleagues became known as the “SABC Eight” after being unlawfully suspended and later fired for publicly disagreeing with orders not to cover anti-government and anti-media censorship protests outside the broadcaster’s Cape Town offices, died suddenly on June 29 at the age of 32 from what was described as “broken heart syndrome”, stress cardiomyopathy, as a result of the trauma she endured. Concerns were expressed about the potential for censorship in two Bills being processed through Parliament, namely the Cybercrimes and Cyber Security Bill and the Prevention and Combating of Hate Crimes and Hate Speech Bill. She had received death threats, been assaulted, shot at and had her apartment broken into several times. Her car’s brakes were tampered with and the tyres slashed. Foeta Krige, Venter’s senior producer at SABC for eight years and also a member of the SABC 8, said he had received death threats on 13 or 14 occasions. Other members of the SABC 8 also received death threats. So This is Democracy? 2017 93