AFRICAN PRESS GANGS  -  15 August 2010

The leader of an African gang in Zimbabwe, Robert Gabriel Mugabe, arrested Editors, closed newspapers, denied his citizens freedom of expression - even at the polls. He felt threatened by open communication and legitimate opposition.

The leader of an Afrikaans gang in South Africa also tried to control the press. In 1968 I stood in the dock with Laurence Gandar, Editor of the RAND DAILY MAIL, because the Nationalist government claimed that our reporting on conditions in some South African prisons was unacceptable. The conditions in some prisons were in fact appalling and so was the purpose of that political trial - to muzzle the press.

And now we are faced with the reaction of another gang which feels threatened by legitimate opposition. Free expression and the free flow of information are specifically protected in our excellent 1996 Constitution. This Information Bill is a new African press gang's effort to control the media.

I find it significant that so many professional Editors who opposed former efforts to control the media now oppose the Info. Bill. A Short-list: Max Du Preez Rex Gibson Raymond Louw Allister Sparks Richard Steyn

PEN once stood for Poets, Playwrights, Essayists, EDITORS and Novelists. International PEN defends free expression and encourages literature, and I am pleased to report that SA PEN members also object to this iniquituous Bill - author Zakes Mda for instance, says:

"Nothing scares me more than 'national interest'. It is a nebulous notion defined by a political party to serve its interests."

From the past, I would like to add some names of those who also defended free expression: IPI Press Freedom Heros Laurence Gandar and Percy Qoboza Obed Kunene Aggrey Klaaste Nat Nakasa.

Reject this Bill! Write! Africa Write!

Anthony Fleischer
President
South African Centre of International PEN

Read about this issue further on the SA PEN Website

Visit the PEN International Website