South Africa 2016 violations & victories September 29 Violation of Public Freedom of Expression/Access to Information The Supreme Court of Appeal ruled that the censoring in February 2015, of videos of disorder and commotion in Parliament in the parliamentary broadcast service, which feeds national broadcasters, was unconstitutional. SANEF, Prime Media Broadcasting, and civil society organisations upholding freedom of the press had raised the issue in an urgent application in the Western Cape High Court, which ruled that the censorship was constitutional. The organisations appealed in the Supreme Court of Appeal, which made the unconstitutional ruling on September 29. The appellants hailed the court judgment “a victory for openness and transparency”. The censorship – which resulted in the video service showing only the face of the Speaker while disorder raged – followed the jamming of mobile phone signals at the opening of Parliament earlier that month. Parliamentary officials said the censorship was in line with its rules, which stated that unruly behaviour should not be shown. The appellants had also called on the Supreme Court of Appeal to declare the jamming of mobile phones unlawful and unconstitutional. Appeal Court Judge C H Lewis declared that “the rules and policy adopted by Parliament governing the broadcast of disorder in the Parliamentary Chamber violates the public’s right to open Parliament and are unconstitutional and unlawful. The disruption of the cellphone signal….was unlawful”. September 29 Assaulted Journalists covering the #feesmustfall campaign at the Doornkloof and Kingsway campuses at the University of Johannesburg on September 28 were attacked by private security officials hired by the university. In one chilling incident, a photographer was punched repeatedly on the head, hit with a stick in the stomach, and then peppersprayed at close range. A group of reporters were circled on Joe Slovo Drive, ordered to sit on the road and then pepper-sprayed. A photographer was also hit in the face with a plank-like object. SANEF expressed outrage at the attacks and complained to university ViceChancellor Dr Ihron Rensburg, who condemned the officials’ conduct and promised to ensure that they would respect the right of journalists to do their work. SANEF also condemned the hostility of student leaders towards journalists. He also urged journalists to lay charges against the security officials. November 10 Threatened Two police officers called on 20-year-old second year student journalist Magnificent Ndebele between 1 and 2am at his university residence and without any warrant confiscated his equipment, including his mobile phone and laptop. They accused him of inciting violence and interfering with their investigation. They also warned him that his movements were being watched. A few days earlier Ndebele had witnessed and taken pictures of a confrontation between students and private security officials at one of the student residences, where one of the