and he smeared us in the process. A newspaper is built on little more other than its credibility and reputation – Mushwana willfully sought to damage ours.” The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA), responsible for the regulation of broadcasting and telecommunications services, received a new chairperson. Paris Mashile, who replaced Mandla Langa, will serve until June 30 2010. Seven councilors were also appointed by South African President Thabo Mbeki, for terms between two and five years. In September a businessman and a local DJ, who objected to articles written about them in the Sunday World, held the newspaper’s staffers in KwaZulu-Natal hostage for more than two hours. The pair demanded detailed apologies for the stories written, although they later apologised themselves to the journalists involved. The SABC began the year with the high-profile resignation of its Chief Executive Officer, Peter Matlare. Its news division was dogged by concerns regarding editorial independence and a spate of high-level resignations – including head of radio news Pippa Green and the reassignment of head of television news, Jimi Matthews. By the time new group CEO Dali Mpofu took the reins on August 1, morale at the broadcaster was said to be at an all-time low. Mpofu noted the need to transform the SABC into a genuine public broadcaster in line with its public service mandate. But he had hardly settled into his new office when he faced his first controversy – the non-airing of footage of newly appointed Deputy President Phumzile MlamboNgcuka being booed by supporters of her predecessor, Jacob Zuma, at a Women’s Day rally at Utrecht in KwaZulu-Natal. Mpofu initiated an internal review of the incident. At first the broadcaster said the freelance camera operator had arrived late, but televised evidence showed he was there. A two-person commission absolved the broadcaster of bias or censorship, as the footage was never sent for consideration to be aired. However, questions about its independence are still unanswered and the corporation will have to work hard to ensure that its viewers regard it as accountable to the public it serves. In October, the South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) launched its ‘Media freedom is your freedom’ campaign. Aimed at showing that media freedom and democracy were two sides of the same coin, the campaign includes a programme to ensure that Section 205 of the Criminal Procedure Act, which can compel journalists to reveal their sources in court or face a jail-term, is amended. SANEF is in negotiations with government to formulate a ‘just excuses’ clause to insert into the law to ensure that journalists are free to do their work without the burden of Section 205 hanging over them. In October, President Thabo Mbeki opened the first African Editors’ Forum (TAEF) conference in Kempton Park where over 100 editors from the continent met under the banner ‘Reporting Africa for Africans and the world’. City Press editor Mathatha Tsedu was appointed the first TAEF chairperson. The trial of Jacob Zuma for rape once again highlighted the tension between politics and the media. Zuma was allowed to make a secret court appearance with a specially convened court hearing early on the morning of December 6. The media were prevented from entering the court. In response, SANEF, Primedia Broadcasting and The Star newspaper sent an official letter to National Police Commissioner Jackie Selebi asking if he supported the action of the police who barred the media. The letter noted that the unlawful and unconstitutional conduct of the police and VIP protection services occurred in full view of Johannesburg Area Police So This Is Democracy? 2005 -99- Media Institute of Southern Africa