State of the media in Southern Africa - 2003 ■ ALERTS • DATE: January 23, 2003 PERSONS/INSTITUTIONS: Lexi Herholdt, Nthabiseng Makhongoana VIOLATIONS: Beaten O n January 23 2003, two South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) journalists were allegedly assaulted and held captive by teachers at a school near Lomanyaneng, North West Province. Radio reporters Lexi Herholdt and Nthabiseng Makhongoana told MISA’s South African chapter (MISA-SA) that they were investigating a story about a school principal who refused to give students their report cards because of non-payments of school fees. • DATE: March 17, 2003 PERSONS/INSTITUTIONS: newspaper(s), radio station(s), television station(s) VIOLATIONS: Threatened O n March 17 2003, Eastern Cape Member of Executive Council (MEC) for Provincial Safety, Liaison and Transport Dennis Neer launched an attack on the press for its allegedly “biased” reporting on police transfers. Addressing the legislature, Neer said, “recently our biased media, which is clearly being fed by those who benefited from apartheid and are not prepared or willing to accept change, reported on the impact of reconstruction of the Public Service, with a focus on the SAPS (South African Police Service).” • DATE: August 22, 2003 PERSONS/INSTITUTIONS: newspaper(s), radio station(s), television station(s) VIOLATIONS: Censored O n August 18 2003, at the opening of the Nthabiseng Thutuzela Care Centre at Baragwanath Hospital in Soweto, South Africa, Justice Minister Penuell Maduna said the South African government would not comment on continuing allegations that Deputy President Jacob Zuma tried to solicit a bribe from a French defence contractor linked to South Africa’s multibillion rand arms deal. Maduna also instructed government agencies and persons involved in the investigation not to comment on the issue. “With the support of President Thabo Mbeki, we have decided not to comment on this matter. No one must comment. We are not in the business of running investigations through the media,” Maduna said. The justice minister was accompanied by Public Prosecutor Bulelani Ngcuka, who is also in charge of the Scorpions Investigative Unit. • DATE: October 8, 2003 PERSONS/INSTITUTIONS: Ranjeni Munusamy VIOLATIONS: Legislation (legal action) O n October 8 2003, former Sunday Times journalist Ranjeni Munusamy was subpoenaed to appear before the Hefer Commission as its first witness, forcing her to testify before the presidential commission of enquiry. The Hefer Commission is seeking information on the source of documents and a story that Munusamy leaked to the rival Sunday newspaper City Press on September 7. The story alleged that National Director of Public Prosecutions Bulelani Ngcuka had been investigated by the ruling African National Congress (ANC) on suspicion that he was an apartheid spy. Due to the broad-ranging nature of the subpoena, it is inevitable that Munusamy will be asked to reveal So This Is Democracy? 2003 79 Media Institute of Southern Africa