South Africa 2015 violations & victories February 12 Journalists’ cell phones blocked Journalists in Parliament to hear the State of the Nation Address by President Jacob Zuma were astonished when their cell phones would not respond. They found that the State Security Agency had installed a signal blocking device to thwart any attempt to use unmanned aircraft drones to attack the president or parliament and this had rendered the phones inoperable. The one bright spot was the immediate disabling of the device when journalists complained. February 12 Court action against `censored’ TV pictures of Parliamentary turmoil Journalists instituted a court action against Parliament’s broadcasting team for failing to transmit pictures of mis-behaviour of MPs and the turmoil that erupted when police ejected Economic Freedom Front (EFF) MPs. The cameras were switched from the scuffling MPs to the face of the Speaker, preventing viewers from seeing the disruption. In May two of three judges ruled against the journalists who have appealed. March 15 Western Cape Government calls for boycott of newspaper Democratic Alliance leader Helen Zille instructed Western Cape Government provincial departments to cancel their subscriptions to the Cape Times, a local newspaper. The directive to end subscriptions followed the publication of a report earlier this month titled, ‘Foetal alcohol syndrome’ sad legacy: The story of baby Thomas.’ The DA Premier Helen Zille responded to the article, criticising the facts of the story and the newspaper’s alleged refusal to cooperate in locating the perpetrators. April 8 Security guard stops picture of train derailment taken from public road Paarl Post community newspaper journalist Frans le Roux was physically prevented by a security guard from the Passenger Rail Authority of SA (Prasa) from taking pictures of a train derailment in Paarl. Le Roux was trying to take pictures from a public road when the guard stormed at him and stopped him. The editor has lodged a complaint with Prasa and pointed out that the newspaper had experienced similar interference from Prasa security guards in the past. Although taking pictures on railway property can be banned, photographers are free to take pictures of scenes on railway property from a public road or place.